Morocco: Temporary workers at Danone Centrale protest job losses due to consumer boycott

Workers on short-term contracts at Morocco’s Centrale Danone, a subsidiary of French group Danone staged a sit-in in Rabat late on June 5, 2018 over losing their jobs as a consumer boycott now in its second month pressures the company.

About 2,000 people held banners urging an end to the boycott and blaming the government for what they described as a degradation of the purchasing power of Moroccans. Centrale Danone has about 6,000 people on its payroll.

The company reported that its activity dropped around 50 percent and the company lost $16 Million since the boycott campaign was launched on April 20. Centrale Danone also reported that it would cut by 30 percent the amount of milk it collects from 120,000 farmers and lay off workers on short-term contracts, estimated by a government minister at 1,000 people.

The protest against prices set by large groups linked to a business and political elite, or foreign brands was directed at Centrale Danone, Afriquia fuel stations, owned by the Akwa group of billionaire agriculture minister Aziz Akhanouch, and the Sidi Ali water brand.

Sources: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-morocco-danone-protests/moroccos-centrale-danone-workers-protest-job-losses-due-to-boycott-idUSKCN1J204B
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1290736/centrale-danone-loses-16-million-due-morocco-boycott