A new website for those seeking employment in Morocco’s public sector has drawn mixed reactions from youths.

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat

The Moroccan government recently announced the creation of a new online portal dedicated to public sector recruitment.

“Competitions are the only solution when it comes to public sector recruitment,” Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane said on July 6th to launch emploi-public.ma.

“In addition, young people need to understand that the public sector isn’t the only place where jobs exist,” he added. “I have to guarantee equality for all citizens, so I can’t directly recruit some young people at the expense of others. If we recruit en masse, we will destroy our country. The number of public-sector workers is already higher than what we need.” The prime minister added that it is a way of restoring public confidence and that of young people in particular.

“The new site will help to boost transparency,” Benkirane said.

While the initiative has raised hope among some young people, others remain doubtful.

Young people now have access to reliable information about public-sector recruitment contests and the names of those who are selected, Samir Tourabi, 24, told Magharebia. She hopes that the measure will bring the transparency that people have hoped for, as many young graduates have lost faith in the competitive recruitment process.

“If favouritism and corruption are outlawed, young people’s faith in the competitive system will be restored. Personally, I will go for it and have high hopes. As long as I don’t end up disappointed,” said Tourabi, who holds a master’s degree in economics.

Hundreds of others disagreed and staged sit-ins outside parliament. They called for direct recruitment into public-sector posts without competition.

Young people will go on campaigning until they win, regardless of the prime ninister’s statements, said Hicham Chetibi, a 32-year-old political science graduate who has been unemployed for ten years.

Benkirane has repeatedly urged youths to change their minds as the government will not accede to their demands, he said.

Public Sector Minister Abdeladim El Guerrouj stressed that the website offers candidates for public sector jobs full details regarding terms and conditions of employment and the dates and venues of recruitment contests.

According to the minister, the aim is to enshrine the principles of fairness, equal opportunity and merit in public sector employment and to ensure transparency by publishing short lists, final results and waiting lists.

Details of public sector salaries and the provisions of the General Civil Service rules and special regulations will also be made public, as will answers to the questions most frequently asked by future candidates.

At present, the new website gives details of 12,201 jobs. Of these, 25% are in the education sector and 10% are with the internal affairs authorities.

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