Interview 12 – From Law to Pastries

Tell me about your background

My name is Zineb. I am a woman, married, and I grew up in Meknes and I have a law degree.

Before, I used to stay at home more, but this shop belonged to my father. Now we manage it within the family. I have been working here for about 20 years.

What does your job involve?

I am a sweets seller. I make all kinds of traditional and modern pastries

We prepare everything at home, then bring it here to sell. We receive customers directly. Other women make sweets from their homes and sell them

We work together with my brothers. It’s my father’s shop originally, and we coordinate among ourselves to keep the activity running, we support each other and work together. It’s a family-based activity

We also try to be part of a group or a network, to organize ourselves better. It’s not always easy, but we try

I don’t do anything else besides making and selling sweets. On one side, I feel comfortable with this work. I prefer working independently. And God thanks there are good things

Would you like the sector to be formalised?

I am satisfied with my work, my customers. I would love if my job was formalised but I still love it though this way

Is the formalisation of the economy an option in Morocco?

Alhamdulillah, we are doing okay. Things are stable. Agriculture is not my field, I couldn’t work in it