HIBAPRESS – Mohamed Zerriouh
The employment file at the Nador West Mediterranean Port is sparking increasing debate about the extent to which the sons of the Nador and Driouch provinces are benefiting from the job opportunities offered by this strategic project, especially regarding positions related to the operation of port cranes and equipment, such as STS and RTG. This is amidst questions about how these jobs are advertised and the extent to which local competencies are given the opportunity to compete for them.
This discussion comes at a time when the two regions are rich with significant youth potential, including graduates and holders of diplomas and certificates in various technical and professional specializations, who aspire to integrate into the labor market and benefit from the opportunities provided by this major project. Observers believe it is essential for the scale of investment in the port to positively reflect on local employment opportunities, allowing the youth of Nador and Driouch to contribute to the success of this economic endeavor and benefit from its developmental impacts.
Conversely, the method of distributing job opportunities raises questions about the reliance of a number of positions on subcontracting companies, known as "Sous-traitance," and the associated concerns regarding wages, working conditions, and professional stability. Circulating data indicates that wages for some jobs in this framework range between 3500 and 3700 dirhams per month, which sparks debate about the appropriateness of these wages for the nature of the required tasks, especially for field jobs that require physical effort, technical skills, and continuous professional commitment.
In this context, demands are increasing for clarification of the recruitment criteria and conditions for accessing positions directly related to the port's management and operation, while ensuring equal opportunities for all qualified candidates, including the sons of the Nador and Driouch provinces. The demand also highlights the need to improve working conditions and enhance social and professional protection, ensuring fair wages and prospects for promotion and stability, away from any regional discrimination or exclusion of local competencies that possess the necessary qualifications.
In light of these questions, there remains a need for clear communication from the concerned authorities regarding the adopted employment policy, how positions are advertised and the conditions for applying, and the extent to which the competencies available in the Nador and Driouch provinces are considered. The success of the Nador West Mediterranean Port is not only measured by the scale of investments, equipment, and infrastructure, but also by its ability to create decent and stable job opportunities, and to make the sons of the region true partners in economic and social development, so that they feel this strategic project represents an opportunity for their professional future, and not merely an economic workshop established near them without them benefiting as desired from its fruits.
