Artisans in Morroco Challenged by the Pandemic

The handicraft sector, which was heavily affected by the pandemic, will benefit from several support instruments in 2022, with the aim of succeeding in the challenge of recovery. The dependence of craft activities on the tourism sector, which has just been provided with an emergency plan, will be salvageable for the professionals concerned, especially to encourage demand. It should be said that after the approval in December 2021, the new implementing regulations of Law 50-17 on the status of the artisan, the recognition of all activities related to the sector will be operated. This will allow hundreds of thousands of workers in the sector to finally adhere to the social coverage. One of the main projects to be conducted, to this end, during the first half of this year 2022, will be the establishment of an updated database to integrate into the sector certain categories of trades not yet recognized.

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In addition to the classification of crafts in two main areas, the requirements for registration in the National Register of Crafts will apply gradually

This is to say that the law on these activities will be the main mechanism to be deployed to integrate the categories previously excluded from the National Register of the artisan. In addition, the current year will be characterized by the implementation of several priorities, outlined by the Regional Plans of craft, with an upgrade of the entire value chain of trades and industries targeted. The objective is “to develop craft products with strong cultural content and restructure the productive fabric,” said the sectoral roadmap validated by the Finance Act 2022. Among other priorities, is also “the promotion of sales on new markets, especially for some regions with a tourist vocation.”

On the thorny issue of improving the working conditions of artisans, it is planned to implement several requirements of the law on decent work, and the redesign of the training process. The status of several trades will be revised for this purpose, including those of master craftsman and assistant craftsman. Several transparency requirements will be imposed, also, to legal persons involved in the sector, whether cooperatives or companies. In addition, the regional plans will be essential mechanisms to enable artisans to access funding at preferential rates or to obtain assistance for digital marketing. It should be noted that the deployment of the process of adoption of the Development Plans of the craft sector has been hit hard by the health crisis. These plans remain, however, among the alternatives most likely to mitigate the impact on activities. For the moment, the establishment of the National Register of Craftsmen seems to be the appropriate channel through which all artisans could benefit from the contribution of the regional approach. As a reminder, a vast operation of labeling is still underway. It aims to draw up the list of production units having passed the audit required by the right to use the label. The said audit is intended to certify the ability of the units concerned to “produce according to quality standards required by law and regulations on consumer protection.

The pivotal role of chambers of crafts

The sectoral roadmap relies, to a large extent, on the contribution of professional chambers in the revival of activities, including the targeting of subsidies granted. The chambers of crafts receive an annual allocation of 22 MDH, to cover their operating costs and investment. Note that in addition to the Ministry of supervision, the House of Crafts also contributes to these grants. For its part, the steering committee of the National Strategy of the craft is a crucial component for the implementation of the contract program. In the same register, the target relating to the segment of vocational training should reach, in 2021, 65,370 apprentices in the trades of the craft, and this for a budget of 341 MDH. Under their new status, the chambers of crafts are a pivot between young people and craft enterprises, intervening in the content of programs and facilitating exchanges.

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(Featured Image by Ugandan Crafts via Unsplash)

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First published in LES ECO.ma, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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