Morocco launches program for 250,000 temporary new jobs

Morocco has launched a programme to create 250,000 temporary public works jobs, prime minister Aziz Akhannouch announced on Wednesday, as the kingdom grapples with high rates of unemployment.

The programme, named "Awrash", will initially be launched in ten provinces, before gradually being implemented across the country, according to a government statement.

It will target those who struggle to find job opportunities because of a lack of academic qualifications, as well as people who lost their jobs during the pandemic, the statement reads.

Morocco's unemployment rate rose to more than 12 percent last year as the Covid-19 pandemic devastated the economy.

But unemployment was also a major issue in the pre-pandemic era, with Moroccan graduates taking to the streets to protest the lack of job prospects.

Imad El Ghazal, a research professor specialising in entrepreneurship, told The New Arab that though Awrash is an "achievable project", it is unlikely to bring about any substantial change to unemployment figures.

“The issue is that the promised number will not solve the problem - 250,000 [jobs] is far from enough to end unemployment in Morocco,” El Ghazal said.

While running for prime minister last year, Akhannouch promised to solve Morocco’s long-standing unemployment issue by helping to create one million job opportunities in the private sector.