Why are young Moroccans fleeing their country?

For years, people have been forced to flee their country because of famine, extreme poverty and war, in search of a better life. Migration, which have no legal or geographical boundaries, and will be one of the central issues of this century.

Illegal immigration is now a difficult problem faced by countries in both developed and developing countries.

 
In recent decades, political, economic, social and demographic developments in many parts of the world have stimulated migration. The growing volume of trade, rapid and cheap transportation, the increased ease of communication have encouraged more young people to migrate beyond their national borders.

Globalization, greater access to information and the Internet may have made young people more aware of opportunities that are lacking in their countries.

In Morocco, young people aged 15 to 35 years now represent over 38% of the total population. A considerable number of these young people have, on average, more years of schooling, they are healthy and have opportunities to pursue their university studies. They participate actively in economic and social development of Morocco, they desire to be serious and reliable partner in any project and policy affecting both their society.

However, the majority of these young people turn their gaze towards a mythical world. Their dreams and their lives are elsewhere. An unknown but also imagined, fantasized. That's why they want to leave Morocco, "by breaking", even risking their lives. Sesame (visa) is for these young people, impossible to obtain. The majority of them have already asked at least once a visa that they have not obtained. So, they attempt the unthinkable, they try the "underground But few are those who arrive in the country where they plan to go. Tragedy that always ends in deaths and injuries.

Many European countries including Spain and Italy, which suffer, benefit from the arrival of young Moroccan immigrants who occupy the lower paid jobs that nobody else wants to play. They provide labor in agriculture and construction, hotels ….

For networks and very powerful Mafia organization, the phenomenon is an important financial resource. As a result, illegal immigrants are under their control, the only exit door is the regularization. The operation of this emigration is that the gangs consider "the illegal immigrant as a vulgar commodity on which they will make the maximum profit." They completely disregard the laws and human rights. Examination of the illegal migration of young people to review two major issues: the causes and motivations of the problem and prospects.

The motivations of the migration of young Moroccans are manifold: an economic, political, social, cultural. These cases intersect and reinforce each other.
If a young person leaves his country, his family, his culture, is not only for one reason. A cumulative pain of various factors pushed him to do so.

The main factors of the migration of young people include: low economic growth, unequal distribution of income, high unemployment, poverty and exclusion, violations of human rights and a low level of governance.

The phenomenon of emigration expresses basically the economic disparities that characterize Morocco and the countries of destination of migratory flows, the GDP of Morocco in 2007 is 80 billion dollar (ie $ 2 807 per capita) is still low compared to other countries, this gap macroeconomic added the unequal distribution of income within the country, the region of Tadla Azilal and the eastern region which are important sites of migration are among the most vulnerable and poor of the kingdom.

Despite the encouraging results of economic growth during recent years, Morocco remains subject to economic instability which destabilizes the labour market, and the absorption of labour supply of young graduates in particular arises with acuity.

The Moroccan state does not cease to expand its initiatives to promote youth employment, however, the unemployment rate continues to show 10% in the first quarter 2007 against 6% for the same period of 2006, as given by the High Planning Commission, this rate amounted to 15.8% in urban areas and 3.8% in rural areas, this increase has mainly affected youth aged 15 to 24 years (15.9%). Worse, when 61.6% of them are unpaid jobs and 23.2% among those who are female neither in school nor employed, are classified as "housewives”.

Besides unemployment, the wage differential between Morocco and the countries receiving the migration continues to motivate young people to leave because of the migration project concerns young people who have a stable work but little pay. The SMIG in Morocco (DH 9.22 per hour in the non-agricultural sector and DH 47.77 per day for the agricultural sector) is 4 to 5 times lower than in European countries.

For most young Moroccans, the migration project is an escape from extreme poverty and exclusion. In Morocco; the poverty rate remains high, 14, 2% in 2004.

To cope with this intensification of the phenomenon of emigration of young Moroccans who had taken alarming proportions, it offers two types of solutions, solutions-based on security approach and law enforcement and other solution based on a development approach.

Indeed, it is now generally accepted that monitoring of borders and the fight against international and suspicious human trafficking is to reduce the number of illegal departures. But according to most European and Moroccan experts, these security measures in the short term will be in vain if the problems of development (promotion of economic growth, fight against unemployment and poverty, improve standard of governance, management conflict) to a large extent the origin of the waves of illegal migration are not addressed thoroughly.

Despite the integrated actions that Morocco has already begun to promote human development and thus standardize the youth in their communities, a number of actions still needed in the creation of youth employment, the fight against poverty and precariousness and integration of youth in economic development and social issues. These actions do not require only the intervention of the State but also other non-state actors such as businesses, local associations etc.

For businesses, their roles lie in creating jobs and encouraging young entrepreneurs particularly in the context of the social economy, the job creation of micro enterprises is the most effective solution because will increase jobs by increasing employers.

The intervention of the private sector is also the mobilization of various socio-economic actors in a new partnership for human development and the fight against the exclusion of young people, it helps to foster creativity and innovation with a view to sustainability development activities carried by young people and / or targeting.

Local authorities also have a role to play in the fight against illegal immigration. By their position, they know the aspirations of youth, but also the strengths, the potentiality of their territory.

They can highlight and develop synergies. Therefore, any local development approach for young people begins with a strong commitment to the community that:

• To listen, attentive to all the initiatives of young people born in its territory;

. • Proceed to the identification of strengths and weaknesses, potential of the territory;

• Identify all stakeholders that could contribute to local development projects;

• Compile these players, helping them implement a comprehensive project.

It is in this synergy, in the involvement of all in a common goal of general interest are the chances of successful local development and thus mitigating the migration of young.

For associations, their involvement is through the organization of awareness campaigns for young people (Distribution of brochures, films, animation workshops in the nearby schools and colleges etc.)

These campaigns aim to raise awareness for children and youth, the actual conditions experienced by illegal immigrants in the countries of the north shore of the Mediterranean, they will be framed by Moroccan associations in the end, illegal emigration of young people is a problem that requires a solution.

To talk frankly about this issue, it is therefore necessary for a national debate opens, but a real debate between the various actors (government, industry, local authorities, associations and so on.)

Alfred Sauvy says: "either the wealth will go to the men or the men who will go to the wealth".

Rachid Beddaoui
researcher in migration
President of the Association Forum of Rural Youth