Latest news with #Sekkouri
Morocco World
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Pushes for Scalable Global Action to End Child Labor
Rabat – Morocco urged the international community to explore practical, adaptable solutions to eliminate child labor worldwide, drawing on its own progress in tackling the issue. Speaking in Geneva on Wednesday, Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, shared Morocco's experience during a high-level meeting held to mark the 2025 World Day Against Child Labor. 'Morocco has taken concrete steps, and we are still moving forward,' Sekkouri said. 'By hosting the sixth global conference on child labor in February 2026, we hope to influence change far beyond our borders.' Morocco has recorded a 55% drop in child labor since 2017. In 2023, around 110,000 children aged 7 to 17 were found to be engaged in economic activity, roughly 1.4% of that age group. The majority of these children, about 60%, worked to support their families, often in rural areas. Although such work may not always fall under formal definitions of child labor, Sekkouri insisted that it should no longer be tolerated. He pointed to several levers behind the country's progress. Chief among them is Morocco's rollout of universal social protection. Today, the program supports around seven million children and looks to remove the economic pressures that drive families to put their children to work. The government has also expanded access to early childhood education. A nationwide push to make preschool available to all children aged four and up has relied on partnerships with civil society groups and a flexible model tailored to local realities. 'Investing in early education gives children a chance to thrive, not work,' Sekkouri said. He also noted the importance of strong governance. Morocco has strengthened its inspection systems, worked closely with the judiciary, and adopted key international conventions and protocols. Despite these gains, Sekkouri acknowledged the deeper challenge of turning successful national models into global solutions. 'We need to understand what allows local strategies to expand and address the problem globally,' he said. 'This is where the international conversation must go.' He called for more multilateral partnerships to support creative, context-sensitive approaches. 'No country can solve this alone,' he added. The event, organized by Morocco's Permanent Mission and the International Labour Organization (ILO), took place alongside the 113th International Labour Conference, running from June 2 to 13 in Geneva. The gathering brought together ministers from Asia, Latin America, and Europe, as well as senior ILO officials and development partners. It also saw the launch of a new joint ILO-UNICEF report offering updated global data on child labor. The findings sparked discussions on how to speed up progress and meet international targets. The ILO, for its part, renewed its call for countries to ratify Convention No. 138 on minimum working age and to fully implement Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor. Tags: child abuseChild LaborMoroccoMorocco child labor
Maroc
11-06-2025
- Business
- Maroc
Social Dialogue: Morocco's 'Authentic' Experience Highlighted in Geneva
Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, Younes Sekkouri, highlighted on Monday in Geneva Morocco's 'authentic' experience in social dialogue, which has resulted in two major agreements totaling nearly $10 billion and benefiting over 12 million people. Delivering Morocco's keynote address to the plenary session of the 113th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), taking place from June 2 to 13, the official highlighted the relevance of the institutional framework Morocco has put in place and the parallel efforts to secure funding sources for social dialogue. In the first third of its mandate, he said, the government had focused on building a new institutional infrastructure for social dialogue, working closely with trade unions and employers. This stage "was not an easy one, as it was marked by serious and fierce discussions and negotiations," Sekkouri acknowledged. 'Once that framework was established, we turned our attention to tax reform and economic performance to ensure we had the means to fund this dialogue,' he added. 'It took us two years to reach two major social agreements, amounting to roughly $10 billion—a significant sum for our national budget. These agreements impact more than 12 million people across various programs under the social state, driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI,' the minister said. Sekkouri noted that the agreements led to wage increases, labor tax reform, and progress on a long-awaited strike law—a piece of legislation that had been stalled for nearly six decades. He also pointed out that the government is dedicating the final third of its mandate to deep structural reforms. The first of these is a major overhaul of the Labor Code, which includes addressing concerns raised in the ILO's recent report on decent work in platform-based jobs. The minister, who is leading Morocco's tripartite delegation at this year's ILC, is scheduled to take part in several high-level events, including one marking World Day Against Child Labour and another at the Global Coalition for Social Justice Forum. Bilateral meetings are also planned. The Moroccan delegation includes representatives from the Head of Government office , the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Morocco's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, and social partners. Employers are represented by delegations from the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Federation of Moroccan Chambers of Commerce and Services (FCMCIS). The unions' delegation includes leaders from the Moroccan Labour Union (UMT), the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), and the Democratic Confederation of Labour (CDT). MAP:11 June 2025
Morocco World
15-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
New VSEs Support Program to Benefit 110,000 Small Businesses in Morocco
Doha – Morocco's government will soon launch a new program dedicated to supporting very small enterprises (VSEs). The announcement came Thursday in Casablanca from Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills. 'This new mechanism aims to support VSEs across multiple areas, such as rent, accounting, or the acquisition of professional equipment, with a target of 110,000 beneficiaries,' Sekkouri stated. The minister was speaking at the first edition of the MSMEs (Very Small and Medium Enterprises) Forum organized by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM). The event was themed 'Inspire to Transform.' The program will focus on financing operating expenses for VSEs, self-entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurs under the CPU regime. With a budget of MAD 1 billion ($100 million), the initiative will be implemented in the coming weeks. Sekkouri stressed the need to strengthen leadership mechanisms, mediation, and information flow for TPMEs. He noted that some small businesses still face inappropriate responses from banking institutions due to a lack of understanding of their specific characteristics. The minister advocated for a more efficient and responsive guarantee system. This system would quickly detect difficulties and provide committed solutions. On financing, Sekkouri acknowledged that despite state guarantee mechanisms, many young entrepreneurs still encounter obstacles to access. A joint commission with the Ministry of Economy and Finance has been established to engage in in-depth consultation with banks. Addressing administrative simplification, the minister flagged the urgency of reforming the commercial and administrative authorization system. He called it a brake on TPME development. Sekkouri pushed for a transition to a model based on specifications, describing it as 'more flexible and better adapted to economic reality.' This strategic project is already underway, coordinating with several work teams to unleash entrepreneurial potential, particularly among young people. Read also: Morocco Records 78,244 New Businesses in First 10 Months of 2024 The minister also revealed that a comprehensive overhaul of the National Agency for Employment and Skills Promotion (ANAPEC) programs is underway. This particularly targets young people without diplomas. Regarding the new Labor Code, Sekkouri affirmed it will be finalized by year-end following a pragmatic approach in consultation with various social partners. 'This new code will, for the first time, regulate remote work and part-time work, opening new professional opportunities,' he emphasized. The TPME Forum featured inspiring testimonials from business leaders and a panel of entrepreneurs from various sectors. They discussed real-world challenges: launch stages, daily obstacles, financing needs, team management, and digital transition. The event also included two masterclasses. One centered around financing problems faced by TPMEs and available market solutions. The other provided tools for small businesses to respond to artificial intelligence challenges and seize opportunities. Through this first edition of the MSMEs Forum, CGEM reaffirmed its commitment to making small businesses a central lever for wealth and job creation. MSMEs represent 95% of CGEM members across Morocco. Tags: MSMEsSmall businesses in moroccoYounes Sekkouri
Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Plans to Regulate Remote Work in Upcoming Labor Code Reform
Rabat – The Moroccan government will soon introduce specific regulations for remote work in the country's Labor Code, with the reform expected to take place in September or October. Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, made the announcement on Wednesday during a conference on employment in the age of AI in Casablanca. The employment landscape has witnessed significant changes in recent years, including in Morocco, with work-from-home gaining popularity. This shift became especially prominent after the COVID-19 pandemic, which imposed a global lockdown that lasted several months. During that period, many companies transitioned to online operations and managed to function efficiently. With that, remote work became more widespread, as companies realized that being physically present in the office was not always necessary. During the event, Sekkouri spoke about ongoing changes in the employment landscape, including AI. He said that Morocco should not focus on AI as a problem for employment, but instead include it in a strategic vision that fits the country's unique situation and potential. The minister also called for a deep reform of the professional training system. He announced the upcoming launch of an AI-based observatory that will support young job seekers. This platform will include digital coaches to help young people improve their CVs and better understand the labor market. In addition, Sekkouri spoke about a new service line for employers to help them easily find available talent. He also mentioned a shift from focusing only on academic degrees to giving more importance to professional certifications. Sekkouri underlined the importance of working closely with the private sector and involving professionals directly in the design of training programs. He also encouraged the growth of local startups and national champions who can show that value can be created in Morocco in the age of AI. Tags: Employmentremote workwork
Morocco World
06-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Revamps Employment Strategy with Dual Focus Approach
Rabat — Morocco's Minister of Economic Inclusion, Younes Sekkouri, has unveiled a comprehensive new employment strategy that marks a significant shift from previous policies. New employment roadmap targets both supply and demand Sekkouri announced the plan during the oral question session on employment policy in the House of Representatives. He explained that while previous approaches primarily focused on job seeker training, the new roadmap addresses both sides of the labor equation. The government's new vision expands beyond preparing job seekers to include creating more employment opportunities across productive sectors. Inter-ministerial oversight strengthens accountability To ensure effective implementation of the new employment strategy, the government has established an inter-ministerial committee dedicated to monitoring job creation across all sectors. This new oversight mechanism introduces unprecedented accountability. Sekkouri noted that every sector now faces specific employment targets and will be held responsible for job losses within their domain, pointing to the government's commitment to measurable results. Major financial support packages for businesses Also, the minister spoke of the financial support that the government is allocating to the implementation of this new employment strategy. MAD 15 billion for SME investment To support small and medium businesses (SME), the government has allocated a budget of MAD 15 billion ($1.62 million). A special decree indicates, according to Sekkouri, that this funding targets investments between MAD 1 and 50 million (between $108,375 and 5.41 million). For these SME to receive the financial support, the government has set a critical condition they should meet, which is being able to create quality jobs within the Moroccan economy. Expanded support for micro-entrepreneurs Over 110,000 very small businesses and auto-entrepreneurs will benefit from a tailored support program. Unlike previous initiatives that focused solely on major capital expenditures, this program covers operational costs, including equipment rental, employee wages, and essential equipment purchases Enhancing job seeker integration programs Professional apprenticeship expansion The government aims to quadruple the number of professional apprenticeships, increasing beneficiaries from 24,000 to 100,000. The minister announced that this initiative comes with MAD 500 million in financial backing. ANAPEC reform to target vulnerable groups Morocco's Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills is undergoing a comprehensive reform to better serve job seekers who do not hold academic qualifications. Sekkouri recalled the findings of the Higher Commission for Planning's (HCP) recent report, which identified 910,000 unemployed individuals without certifications, adding that the government has developed specialized programs for this vulnerable group. Morocco's recent employment data According to a recent report from HCP, Morocco's unemployment rate has seen a slight decrease in the first quarter of 2025, moving from 13.7% to 13.3%. The Moroccan economy created 282,000 jobs during this period, making a significant turnaround from losing 80,000 positions last year. Data in the HCP's report signals that the North African country is moving with its economic recovery and job market resilience. Tags: Employmentemployment in Moroccojobs in Morocco
