After graduating from university, women face unemployment in Morocco. Most female university graduates cannot find work in their field so they work in other fields.  Khadija Al-Ghazi, professor at Faculty of Law in Fes city of Morocco, spoke to NuJinha about the reasons why women cannot find a job in Morocco. “Women should be empowered,” she said.

HENAN HARIT

Morocco- According to data shared by the High Commission for Planning (HCP, Haut Commissariat au Plan), the unemployment rate for women in the country has been increasing. The female unemployment rate rose from 15.6 to 15.9. We spoke to Moroccan women working in dangerous and low-paid jobs due to limited job opportunities.

She works in another field

Fatima Rafika (32) lives in Casablanca. She has been unemployed since she graduated from the English department in 2004. Before graduating from the university, she thought she would directly begin to work. But after graduating from university she couldn’t find a job for years. “Before my graduation, I thought I would work for well-known companies but after looking for a job for years, I faced the reality that destroyed all my dreams.”

She is afraid of being unemployed

22-year-old Nesima A. is a law student. “I am afraid of being unemployed after graduating from the university. I will try to have a job by using all job opportunities and I will leave Morocco. I will try to find a job in European countries. I cannot stay in Morocco while there are so many unemployed people.”

She works for peanuts

Fatiha Makyali (39) is a widow and mother of two children in the suburbs of Casablanca.  After she lost her husband, she looked for a job but she couldn’t find one. After looking for a job for a long time, she found a job in the agriculture sector. “I have to work hard all day for peanuts.” She told us.

25-year-old Ghalia El-Hajjam graduated from Arab Literature Department at university. She is also one of the unemployed women in Morocco. “Unfortunately, Moroccan society doesn’t care about women's unemployment. In our society, women are still seen as second-class citizens even if they have a bachelor's degree.

Khadija Al-Ghazi, a professor at the Faculty of Law in Fes city of Morocco, told us the unemployment rate for women is significantly increasing in Morocco. “Women face unemployment in cities, particularly in villages. Most of the women living in villages are seasonal farmworkers and get  low salaries.”

Talking about the causes of unemployment, Khadija Al-Ghazi told us that that gender discrimination and patriarchal mentality are the main factors for unemployment among women. “Another factor is not sending girls to school. Girls become the victims of child marriage. Women should be empowered to participate in the workforce.”