Impact of France's Telemarketing Legislation on Morocco's Economy
In response to the growing frustration among French citizens grappling with incessant telemarketing calls, a new law was adopted on June 30, 2025, which is scheduled to take effect on August 11. This legislation enforces a critical mandate that prohibits all prospecting calls unless explicit consent has been granted by the customer. While this ruling aims to protect consumers' privacy and alleviate their annoyance, it has triggered substantial concerns in Morocco—home to a significant number of call centers that cater primarily to the French market.
According to Younes Sekkouri, the Moroccan Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, this new regulation could jeopardize between 40,000 and 50,000 jobs within Moroccan call centers. This alarming statistic underscores the heavy reliance of these centers on revenue generated from the French market, which accounts for over 80% of their total earnings. The minister, who articulated these concerns in March, noted that while the financial implications are stark, they are complicated by the fact that the sector's boundaries can often be nebulous and difficult to measure.
Ayoub Saoud, the secretary-general of the Fédération Nationale des Centres d'Appels et des Métiers de l'Offshoring (National Federation of Call Centers and Offshoring Professions), expressed skepticism regarding the figures provided by the minister, suggesting they could be lower than the actual impact. Saoud lamented the lack of reliable government statistics, indicating that neither the Haut-commissariat à la stratégie et au plan (Morocco's national statistics office) nor the Observatoire de l'emploi (part of the Ministry of Employment) has offered precise data on the situation. He pointed out that while over 600 call centers are officially licensed to operate, a considerable number function without proper authorization, further complicating the landscape of the industry.
As reported by lemonde.fr.
