Morocco World News
Taroudant, April 7, 2012
Birds
are known to migrate from the cold countries in the North to warmer
places in the South, but throughout recent history people normally
migrated from south to north, to bountiful places that afford better
living, and to countries where people enjoy a greater amount of
political and religious freedom.
People
from the South emigrated to European countries, mainly France, Italy
and Spain, for many years. Europe was once a dreamland for many
Moroccans in the same way that America used to be the dreamland of many
Europeans . Europe was a place where everybody can make a fortune even
those who are neither skillful nor competent. Strong muscles and
physical endurance were the only required abilities needed to keep
hunger away from an immigrant’s home. Mining, masonry, agriculture and
other tough jobs were the ones performed largely by migrants. They were
indeed exhausting jobs, but they were, for the majority of immigrants,
very rewarding. Most of those immigrants did well in their homelands,
and now most of them are enjoying secure retirement.
However,
when the latest economic crisis hit Europe and America, job
opportunities in those places became fewer. It affected immigrants and
natives alike. Only skilled and competent people were able to maintain
their jobs, and even then not for very long. People came up with various
solutions to cope with the economic crisis. Some gave up their houses
for sale or rent; others abandoned their big cars and other costly
properties . But others chose to migrate back to the southern countries,
where they still can enjoy the luxuries of life with minimal effort. A
pension that hardly pays essential bills in a European country can
afford the pentioner a much more comfortable life in a southern country.
Morocco
is among the countries that have received and are still receiving
thousands of migrants from the North. They come from different
countries, but the majority have been from Europe. Migrant businessmen
have chosen Morocco over other countries for many reasons. First, the
strategic geographic location of Morocco, which facilitates commerce
with Europe and other targeted African markets, is a big plus. Second,
the political and social climate in Morocco is very encouraging and
reassuring to start any lucrative project.
In the
last two years, a number of Europeans, especially Spaniards, came to
work and live in the northern cities of Morocco. They came to offer
their services as skillful agents, private nurses
and small private investors with expertise in the hotel business,
farming and construction or came as housewives. They work for
low wages compared to European standards, but such wages are plenty for
them to live a decent life in the cities of northern Morocco.
With
such high numbers of people migrating southward, one wonders whether
the world is being reshaped. Are we witnessing the economic renaissance
of the South? Apparently the southern countries are now living their
heyday.
Edited by Ahmad Azizi
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