Alternative Solutions for Street Trade and Increasing Vocational Training Program’s Target to 200,000 Beneficiaries
In a move aimed at addressing the challenges of the informal sector and providing sustainable alternatives for street trade, Younes Skouri, the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, stated that the government has laid out a clear strategy to transition these groups towards structured and stable professions. This was announced during the weekly oral questions session in the House of Representatives on Monday, October 21, 2025.
The minister began his address by referencing recent statistics from the High Commission for Planning indicating a decline in the informal sector. However, Skouri emphasized that this decline “does not mean that there is no real problem,” explaining that “a large segment of citizens did not choose to work in the informal sector but was pushed into it due to a lack of alternatives.”
In the context of addressing one of the most prominent groups within this sector, the “street vendors,” the minister revealed that a comprehensive study of 125 professions has identified 19 professions that could serve as suitable alternatives for those engaged in street trade.
Skouri affirmed that the key solution to ensure this transition from street trade to other professions lies in the “vocational training program.” He pointed to the launch of a pilot initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts to support this group during their transition.
The program has undergone a qualitative leap thanks to a royal decree issued in the most recent ministerial council, which raised the initial target of training 100,000 trainees to 200,000 beneficiaries. The minister described this initiative as a “very powerful lever,” as it not only involves training but also provides financial support and social assistance during the training period, which spans six months to two years and targets seven key sectors. The ministry’s analysis indicates that the program has the potential to absorb a significant portion of street vendors, helping them transition to more stable professions.
The minister also discussed efforts to enhance public offerings in vocational training, highlighting a “significant” increase in the number of trainees, which reached 745,000 this year. To support this growth, three new vocational cities have been opened, along with 18 new vocational training institutions, including 16 associated with sectors such as handicrafts. New licenses have also been granted to private sector institutions, bringing the total number of vocational training establishments to 2,388, with a noted doubling of institutions in the public sector.
Regarding the vocational training program, which spans seven sectors within a number of businesses with an integration rate exceeding 80%, Skouri noted that the program has started to yield results.
The minister pointed out that the previous pace only accommodated 9,000 trainees per year, which would necessitate 100 years to train 900,000 unemployed individuals without certificates. He stressed that the recent royal decree aimed to accelerate the pace in response to the needs of youth, especially those unqualified, for a “more equitable and just Morocco.” Skouri concluded his remarks by confirming that this approach will allow for “moving to maximum speed” in the fields of training and economic integration.
