Concerns grow over job cuts in Morocco’s call centre industry

In a statement, the Moroccan union Democratic Organisation for Work (ODT) raised the alarm on a new French directive which will likely force thousands of young call centre workers out of their jobs, according to Moroccan newspaper Tel Quel on 4th November.

The law, which is expected to become effective in the summer of 2026, bans unsolicited marketing calls, effectively ending the demand for call centres in Francophone countries such as Morocco and Tunisia, which work mainly for French companies.

Morocco is a major outsourcing hub due to its proximity to Europe and has hundreds of call centres, employing over 100,000 workers. In further bad news, the ODT report also notes that close to 50,000 businesses are under threat of bankruptcy in 2025, largely because of a prolonged drought that has greatly impacted the agricultural sector in recent years.

Unemployment rates in Morocco have improved recently; a recent report from the High Commission for Planning noted it went down to 13.1%, from 13.6% last year, according to Hespress. However, it remains particularly high amongst the youth at 38.4%, women at 21.6% and graduates at 19% who don’t find employment fitting their skill set.

Call centres, while providing low-paid work, often represent a lifeline for young Moroccans struggling to find secure, long-term employment. This directive is likely to have a direct impact on youth unemployment and to make a whole generation more vulnerable to isolation, addictions and disillusionment.

In the context of large recent Gen Z protests demanding better public services, education and decent living conditions, this could spell disaster for Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

Furthermore, reports in 2024 accused Akhannouch of orchestrating a job “massacre”.  Despite promises to create 200,000 jobs a year, estimates found that over 500,000 jobs had been lost due to poor governance.

Akhannouch hasn’t been spared during the recent wave of protests, with many calling for his resignation and describing his government as “corrupt”. He has responded by asking for increased dialogue, but youth unemployment and lack of opportunities is an issue that will need to be addressed urgently for trust to be restored.

Tel Quel, Hespress, France 24 via AFP, Maghrebi