Rabat – Several reports shed light on how France’s new law banning unsolicited telemarketing calls could put between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs in Morocco’s call center industry at risk.
TV5 reported on Monday that unsolicited telephone calls will be banned in France, starting August 11, with the measure already having significant repercussions for Morocco’s call center industry.
“France accounts for nearly 80% of the Moroccan call center market,” the report said, citing concerns from the National Federation of Call Centers.
The federation recently organized an emergency meeting to discuss the criticism, with the secretary-general of the federation stating some employers could take advantage of the law to dismiss employees without respecting their rights.
“Some unscrupulous employers are taking advantage … to fire employees without rights or compensation,” Ayoub Saoud, Secretary-General of the National Federation of Call Centers, said, as quoted by TV5, noting that the situation has repercussions beyond Morocco and also the French market in different regions, as well as other destinations including Tunisia, Senegal, West African countries, among others.
In March, Morocco’s Minister of Employment Younes Sekkouri acknowledged the challenges posed by the new legislation, warning of repercussions for employment.
He recalled the importance of the call center sector to Morocco’s economy, which generated investments of around MAD 1.3 billion in 2023.
It also generates between MAD 10 and 12 billion of added value annually, which significantly contributes to Morocco’s GDP.
The sector also creates at least 120,000 direct jobs, along with 50,000 indirect jobs in related sectors like transport and logistics.
Earlier this year, Moroccan news outlet Le360 said the French law could notably affect small and medium-sized enterprises that account for 60% of the sector, with the government pledging to launch a strategy to safeguard the sector’s competitiveness and limit job losses.
Last year, France announced that all unsolicited marketing calls would be prohibited, regardless of the sector. The new legislation means that clients will no longer receive marketing calls unless they have explicitly given their consent or if the call concerns an ongoing contract.
