Exploring Internal and International Migration Strategies in Morocco's Export Processing Areas

From "Hedema" to "Zemagria”– From Workers to Migrants

Jenna L. Hennebry, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Balsillie School of International AffairsAssociate Director, International Migration Research Centre (IMRC) www.wlu.ca/imrc Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada

Co-Authors: K.Kopinak J. A. Trinidad, R. Soriano, P. Hondagneu-Sotelo

Research Questions1. What makes a migration hub and can Tangier

be categorized as one?

2. What is the relationship between internal and international migration in the region?

3. What are the primary migration motivations and strategies of migrants coming to or through this hub?

➟ What role does the migration industry or support sector play in migration trajectories, experiences of these migrants?

Export Processing in Morocco

Export Processing Area - Tangier

What makes a “Migration Hub”

Border region

Export processing

International transport

Unique demographic characteristics

Culture of migration/mobility

Migration industry

Migrant support organizations

Internal migration, international migration/ transition

Port of Tangier “God, Country & King”

Labour Force Characteristics in Tangier-Tetouan

Young population 33% younger than 15

Lower unemployment rate than national average 8.6% versus 9.8% in all of Morocco

Larger numbers of female workers 34,6% of workers in the textile sector are women

Tangier-Tetouan -a “Migration Hub”

Point of:

Destination

Departure

Transit

“The Region of Tangier-Tetouan has historically been an area of contact between Morocco and Europe, between Morocco and the world. The bridge between cultures has endowed the region with a feature that no other region of Morocco has: internal dynamism.” Líneas apoyo a estrategia regional para la Cooperación Internacional, Programa ART GOLD Marruecos, UNDP, 2008

Tangier-Tetouan region, Population Densities in 1982, 1994 and 2004

Region of Transit Total expulsions, including

Algerian,& Moroccan by the police across the border from Oujda in 2000 was 16,204 people. From January and September in 2001, 6698 were expelled.

With regard to sub-Saharan Africans, 13,232 were explelled in 2000, and 4,445 alone between January-September 2001 .

In the region of Laayoune, the main departure point for the Canaries, 1,400 people were arrested during 2003 who were subsequently expelled through the border with Algeria.

BBC World News: Migrants die near Al Hoceima, Northern Moroccan coast, April 28, 2008

Moroccan Migrants in Europe

Gráfico 17. Fuente: Servicios Consulares Marroquíes (tomado de Migration Focus, 2009) y datos del Padrón para España (INE)

Region of Transit & Departure

“There are lots of single girls who come here, rent a room, like Moroccan immigrants do in Spain, rent a house and live there ... There are 4x4 meters rooms and 6 or 7 people live there …and nobody can help them, they are foreigners…90% of people who come here come from the south.” Worker from Tangier : male, married, 33 years old

“In this company (Atento) there have been cases of workers who are now working in Spain with the same company…the company ask them to work in other centres and do training, [etc.]….” Worker from Tangier: male, divorced,29 years old

“There are lots of people who think like that [that working for these companies is a strategy to migrate to Spain.] In the company I work for, there are a lot of people who have left the company already because it facilitates the visa processing…There are people who have family relatives in Spain and get support from them.” Worker from Tangier : male, married, 33 years old

“I think about it [migrating to Spain], but it depends… it cannot be just like that, just to emigrate, just to be there. But, if I am going to have a better opportunity, why not?” Worker from Tetuan : male, single, 25 years old

Migration Motivations “You know, people who are married here stay here, single ones can leave.”

“Here, nobody is, no work is safe here; we are hearing rumours that the company will stay opened for 2 or 3 years more and then it will be closed

“People go to Spain or Europe in general to look for work. Even though they go to work and get very tired with their jobs, they get paid all the hours and they have laws as well…But here, they don’t take into account all the hours worked.”

“Well, to tell the truth, the idea of leaving for Spain is still in my mind (laughs) still and engraved, but for me to leave for Spain without papers, to stay there as an illegal immigrant, no. But if there is a contract, for my wife and I or for me…it would be great for me, to tell you the truth.”

“Usually, wages in Spain are way better than here in Morocco, but we have to consider that life in Spain is more expensive. But working conditions are way better in Spain, depending, but in the majority of cases working conditions are better in Spain that in Morocco…In Spain they take into account your opinion, they ask you if you want to work extra hours or not. In Morocco, you work extra hours or you go to the street.”

“Here we are more controlled , and not just at work. In Spain you can do what you want.”

“I think all is the same, except that in Spain they have rights and wages are better than here.”

Preliminary ConclusionsTangier is a “migration hub” characterized by a

particular confluence of characteristics, that are comparable to those in export processing border regions in Mexico.

Internal migration in the region is related to international migration, in so far as many come to the region from rural areas inside Morocco, and countries throughout Africa looking for work in export processing, with the aim of navigating a pathway to international migration.

Common international migration motivations among workers: better working conditions and rights, higher wages, greater autonomy/independence, unmarried or single workers, legal pathways.

Thanks!Thank you for your attention! Sorry I could not be

there in person – but I am busy having a baby ! Thanks very much to our research team, to Dr. Kathy Kopinak for giving this presentation on my behalf, and to Dr. Nicola Piper for her valuable role as discussant!

Please contact me at jhennebry@wlu.ca if you would like to discuss this paper. I would be pleased to hear from you!

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www.wlu.ca/imrc