Speaking before the Social Sectors Committee at the House of Representatives (lower house) on measures taken to support employees and companies that continue their activities, Amekraz stressed that these inspections, which were carried out by joint committees, joint provincial commissions as well as employment inspection officers, concerned a total of 104,958 precautionary measures, of which 89,240 were observed by the companies inspected (85%) while 15,772 measures were not respected (15 %).

During the period from March 13 to April 14, 6,761 establishments benefited from supervision and awareness-raising operations led by employment inspection officers, regarding precautionary and preventive measures aimed at stopping the spread of the virus, he added.

Regarding the emergence of Covid-19 cases at production units that continue their activities, the Minister said that his department and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Green and Digital Economy have set up a procedure for the monitoring and control of compliance by companies of the precautionary measures issued by the public authorities.

Provincial commissions made up of the Departments of Employment and Professional Integration, the Interior, Health, Industry, commerce and the green and digital economy have also been set up to monitor compliance by companies with the precautionary measures, he said.

Commenting consultations on the measures taken by the government, in particular those related to working conditions and social protection, Amekraz stressed that the Head of Government had held a meeting with the four most representative trade unions to consult them on these measures, adding that his department had, for its part, held a consultative meeting with the trade unions to discuss the measures taken to curb the spread of the pandemic at work, as well as to raise awareness among workers and employers.

According to the minister, 94% of businesses in the housing and catering sectors announced the temporary suspension of their activities. The same goes for 55% companies in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, 52% in the manufacturing sector and 47% in the construction sector, while the least affected sectors are agriculture (5%), financial and insurance activities (5.6%) and information and communication sector (18.7%), he pointed out.

The ministry will continue its efforts during the post-lockdown period in order to mitigate the economic and social repercussions of the pandemic, to contribute to improving the business climate, resume economic activity and preserve social peace, he said.