Women's employment was the central focus of discussions held Monday in Rabat between Morocco's Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, and the French Minister Delegate for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination, Aurore Bergé. The two officials exchanged views on common challenges related to female employment, economic inclusion, and gender-responsive budgeting. They emphasized the importance of removing barriers to women's access to the labor market and highlighted models such as the social economy and women's cooperatives as key tools for empowerment. On this occasion, Nadia Fettah reaffirmed that women's employment is a strategic priority, especially in a context where unemployment remains high and women's jobs are particularly vulnerable to crises. She stressed the potential of the social and solidarity economy, particularly through women's cooperatives, as an effective lever for promoting inclusion in underserved regions and among vulnerable groups. For her part, Aurore Bergé underlined the need to tackle the structural barriers limiting women's access to employment, including disparities in career paths, the unequal distribution of parental responsibilities, and workplace organization. She added that gender equality must be seen as a shared responsibility, involving both the private sector and public policy, through an inclusive approach that ensures no one is left behind. Bergé also reiterated the importance of strengthening dialogue on equality, particularly in relation to gender-responsive budgeting, and called for a renewed focus on the social and societal impact of economic policies in a context of rising concerns around sovereignty. The meeting was part of Aurore Bergé's three-day working visit to Morocco, aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and strengthening ties between the two countries, with a focus on economic, social, and political issues.
