Morocco: Activists Call for Increased Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Moroccan activists have called for the implementation of a 7% employment quota for people with disabilities across all sectors, citing the insufficient number of designated public sector jobs. The current allocation of 200 public sector positions annually, as stipulated in the 2027 finance bill, is deemed inadequate to meet the growing demand.

Nadia Atiya, President of the Moroccan Union of Associations Working in the Field of Mental Disability, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach that includes both public and private sectors, as well as the autonomous sector. She highlighted that the current system, which has been in place since 2018, does not adequately address the needs of new graduates with disabilities, who number between 500 and 600 annually.

Atiya pointed out that while the annual allocation of 200 positions is important, it is not sufficient. She advocated for the activation of the legally mandated 7% quota, which should be applied across all government sectors with monitoring and follow-up mechanisms. She stressed that the 200 positions should complement, not replace, the 7% quota to expand employment opportunities and achieve equal access.

Lamia Lahloo Kamal, National Coordinator of the National Committee for Employees with Disabilities and General Secretary of the 'Alternatives' organization for the blind and visually impaired, echoed these sentiments. She noted that the 200 designated positions do not meet the needs and are insufficient. The legally guaranteed 7% quota remains unapplied in practice, with no ministry committing to it in public sector recruitment competitions, whether within the public administration or local authorities.

Kamal highlighted the significant backlog of unemployment, particularly among degree holders from 2018 and 2019, who have yet to enter the job market. She emphasized the need for a clear public policy that distinguishes between three main pathways: public employment, private sector employment, and self-employment, each with specific measures within an integrated vision and clear public policy.