"This gives a rough idea of ​​the extent of damage suffered by national companies in the same way as workers in view of the consequences of this crisis," said Amekraz during the oral questions session in the House of Representatives devoted to "the strategy of employment and the professional integration sector and its contributions to national efforts to face of the Covid-19 pandemic".

He recalled that for the month of March, 131,955 companies out of a total of 216,000 companies affiliated to the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), declared to be impacted by the effects of Covid-19, that is to say approximately 61% of the total registered companies. About two out of three companies have declared to be affected by the impact of the pandemic.

The number of employees declared on work stoppage reached 808,199, out of a total of 2.6 million employees, meaning one in three employees, added the minister.

The ministry has undertaken a series of measures to deal with the socio-economic situation of companies subject to labor inspection, including those affected by the crisis and those likely to be affected, he noted, adding that awareness campaigns have been organized by labor inspectors to measure the extent to which preventive measures have been respected.

The government official also stressed that the efforts made by labor inspectors focused on business continuity and preserving jobs while respecting preventive measures, by encouraging employers to grant administrative leaves or exceptional authorizations, the promotion of remote work or the establishment of work alternation to avoid crowded workplaces. Thus, in the period from March 13 to April 15, labor inspectors visited 6,761 companies.

In order to control the workspaces and focus on compliance with preventive measures and health and safety conditions, Amekraz underscored the creation of a central watch committee as well as regional and provincial watch committees, in coordination with local authorities and the external services of the departments concerned.

In order to avoid cases of virus infection in industrial and commercial units, the Ministry of Labor and Professional Integration and that of Industry, Trade, investment and digital and green economy have elaborated a joint monitoring and inspection procedure so that companies can best comply with the preventive measures adopted by the public authorities, he recalled.

He also indicated that during the last two weeks, provincial commissions have been set up in coordination with the services of the Interior Ministry at the level of prefectures and provinces, composed of representatives of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Professional Integration, industry, trade, investment and digital and green economy as well as representatives of security services, in charge of monitoring compliance with measures to combat the epidemic.

The Minister said that the number of companies where field visits were carried out by the joint commissions, between April 15 and 23, reached a total of 2,259 units, noting that the operation led to the closure of 10 companies which employed 9,764 people, following non-compliance with preventive measures and workers' health conditions.

According to him, a new hotline "ALLO 2233" was launched by the department in charge to provide advice and guidance as well as to receive complaints from employees and employers regarding health and safety at the workplace.