Rabat – Morocco’s government faced renewed scrutiny in parliament as MPs raised concerns over rising business closures, gaps in professional training, and persistent challenges in youth employment.
Responding to questions, the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Younes Sekkouri, argued that talk of “exploding bankruptcies” is exaggerated, citing official OMPIC and CNSS data.
While business failures increased by 17.5% in the first eight months of the year, he said the figures must be viewed alongside the 72,343 new businesses created last year and the rise in companies declaring employees, up 34% since 2019.
MPs, however, remained skeptical, questioning the effectiveness of government policies.
Professional training was another point of contention. Fewer than 12% of Moroccan employees benefit from continuous training, compared to 45% in Europe.
The minister acknowledged persistent administrative obstacles and announced that a new body dedicated to managing continuous training will become operational in January following an agreement with employers and unions.
Youth employment also dominated the session, with the minister proposing limiting the exclusive use of ANAPEC contracts to one year to reduce job instability and mentioned penalties for companies that misuse temporary schemes.
He also outlined a new training roadmap targeting rural areas, offering diplomas in around 200 trades for an estimated 17,000 young people.
Despite the government’s reassurances, parliamentary criticism showed lingering doubts about the impact of current employment and training strategies.
