Temporary Jobs Can Be a Stepping Stone to Stable Employment
23 May 2011
Read by 1908 persons
The negative perception is starting to fade, despite the persistence of fraudulent practices by some providers. Pay can exceed that of a permanent employee by 20%. A temp worker who performs well can easily be hired permanently.
The temp industry is recovering. "Previous years were moderately unsatisfactory due to the global context, but activity has been picking up recently," says Patrick Cohen, CEO of Crit Maroc. Nadia Nasreddine, CEO of 3 N Group, agrees, emphasizing that "the market is growing, but it is not yet fully structured." Most importantly, "the negative image of temporary work is starting to dissipate," adds Ms. Nasreddine. In other words, the industry no longer carries the same preconceived notions, especially among job seekers. Increasingly, holders of a Bac+2 diploma or higher are not hesitant to work for temp agencies. Beginners, in any case, see it as a serious springboard to launch their careers. It must be said that temporary work remains the best way to prove oneself while waiting to land a stable position, even if some still see it as precarious work.
However, a distinction must be made between two groups. Baccalaureate-level profiles applying for positions such as technicians or secretaries easily accept temporary positions.
On the other hand, graduates with Bac+4 and higher degrees are initially reluctant to consider temporary work. But when the temp agency plays its role in raising awareness and explains the benefits of this approach, they are more likely to accept.
Clearly, temporary work now attracts all age groups, and profiles have also diversified considerably. Previously reserved for a limited range of skills such as IT specialists or accountants for short-term assignments, it now covers many fields. "Companies are demanding increasingly specialized profiles. This is the case for purchasing managers and even specialized technicians," confirms Patrick Cohen.
"We are seeing more requests than usual for import-export specialists. However, salespeople are harder to find because it is the fixed-term contract connotation that scares them away," specifies Ms. Nasreddine.
Some have made it a career choice. Mohamed Koura, who was a client manager in a company, bypassed permanent contracts. "What I want is to maintain my freedom and diversify my experiences. That's why I prefer temporary work," he says. He had his first experience in 2008 and has been satisfied ever since. Through a specialized agency, he managed to land his first assignments. He earns 20% more than a permanent employee in the same position. Then, the multiplication of assignments allows him to broaden his knowledge and skills across several sectors. "I've been a production manager and a client manager. Staying in a permanent position, I would never have been able to get these different positions," he says.
For employers, temporary work can offer several advantages, provided it is well managed. First, there is flexibility. Thus, during periods of growth and high activity, companies can quickly and cheaply secure the services of qualified and immediately operational personnel. It is also a way to control the wage bill. This is an advantage that should particularly attract the attention of SMEs.
Furthermore, companies are increasingly using temporary work as an additional source for recruitment. In more than one out of three cases, according to professionals, a temporary assignment leads to a permanent contract, with the temporary period acting as a real trial period.
This solution is particularly popular with SMEs, which do not always have a sufficiently developed HR department to meet all their recruitment needs.
However, one of the problems with temporary work remains training. Very few intermediary companies engage in it. "Some temp agencies have a habit of not paying their employees' social security contributions; how can they invest in training?" asks the CEO of Crit. For a few, like 3 N Group, the establishment of a training center has more or less regulated the market. "We have established agreements with local schools to set up training programs specific to electricians, for example, or heavy vehicle mechanics. Personal development training is also important, as we train some of our temps in team management, soft skills, negotiation...," he explains.
Some temporary workers benefit from the same advantages as permanent employees
According to professionals, the sector is a major contributor to job creation. Currently, it is difficult to give even an approximate figure for the number of temporary workers in Morocco. One reason is that the definition of the activity is very flexible. In principle, temporary work is the period during which a vacant position is occupied by someone other than its holder. It can also be mentioned in the case where a company with a temporary increase in activity hires additional labor to cope. But in the market, everything related to the temporary work sector—which is only temporary in name—is considered temporary work. This includes security and cleaning. In this very broad conception of the activity, "there would be more than 100,000 temporary workers, but between 10 and 20% of them are regularly declared," notes Patrick Cohen. In short, there are still many providers who disregard the labor code and tax legislation. These unhealthy practices tarnish the image of the sector, despite the good faith of some structured companies that are trying their best to improve the image of temporary workers by guaranteeing a work contract in a serious company with a good salary and social coverage. In some cases, temporary workers may receive the same benefits as permanent employees (car, phone...).
Published May 18, 2011
Online May 23, 2011
Lavieeco.com
The temp industry is recovering. "Previous years were moderately unsatisfactory due to the global context, but activity has been picking up recently," says Patrick Cohen, CEO of Crit Maroc. Nadia Nasreddine, CEO of 3 N Group, agrees, emphasizing that "the market is growing, but it is not yet fully structured." Most importantly, "the negative image of temporary work is starting to dissipate," adds Ms. Nasreddine. In other words, the industry no longer carries the same preconceived notions, especially among job seekers. Increasingly, holders of a Bac+2 diploma or higher are not hesitant to work for temp agencies. Beginners, in any case, see it as a serious springboard to launch their careers. It must be said that temporary work remains the best way to prove oneself while waiting to land a stable position, even if some still see it as precarious work.
However, a distinction must be made between two groups. Baccalaureate-level profiles applying for positions such as technicians or secretaries easily accept temporary positions.
On the other hand, graduates with Bac+4 and higher degrees are initially reluctant to consider temporary work. But when the temp agency plays its role in raising awareness and explains the benefits of this approach, they are more likely to accept.
Clearly, temporary work now attracts all age groups, and profiles have also diversified considerably. Previously reserved for a limited range of skills such as IT specialists or accountants for short-term assignments, it now covers many fields. "Companies are demanding increasingly specialized profiles. This is the case for purchasing managers and even specialized technicians," confirms Patrick Cohen.
"We are seeing more requests than usual for import-export specialists. However, salespeople are harder to find because it is the fixed-term contract connotation that scares them away," specifies Ms. Nasreddine.
Some have made it a career choice. Mohamed Koura, who was a client manager in a company, bypassed permanent contracts. "What I want is to maintain my freedom and diversify my experiences. That's why I prefer temporary work," he says. He had his first experience in 2008 and has been satisfied ever since. Through a specialized agency, he managed to land his first assignments. He earns 20% more than a permanent employee in the same position. Then, the multiplication of assignments allows him to broaden his knowledge and skills across several sectors. "I've been a production manager and a client manager. Staying in a permanent position, I would never have been able to get these different positions," he says.
For employers, temporary work can offer several advantages, provided it is well managed. First, there is flexibility. Thus, during periods of growth and high activity, companies can quickly and cheaply secure the services of qualified and immediately operational personnel. It is also a way to control the wage bill. This is an advantage that should particularly attract the attention of SMEs.
Furthermore, companies are increasingly using temporary work as an additional source for recruitment. In more than one out of three cases, according to professionals, a temporary assignment leads to a permanent contract, with the temporary period acting as a real trial period.
This solution is particularly popular with SMEs, which do not always have a sufficiently developed HR department to meet all their recruitment needs.
However, one of the problems with temporary work remains training. Very few intermediary companies engage in it. "Some temp agencies have a habit of not paying their employees' social security contributions; how can they invest in training?" asks the CEO of Crit. For a few, like 3 N Group, the establishment of a training center has more or less regulated the market. "We have established agreements with local schools to set up training programs specific to electricians, for example, or heavy vehicle mechanics. Personal development training is also important, as we train some of our temps in team management, soft skills, negotiation...," he explains.
Some temporary workers benefit from the same advantages as permanent employees
According to professionals, the sector is a major contributor to job creation. Currently, it is difficult to give even an approximate figure for the number of temporary workers in Morocco. One reason is that the definition of the activity is very flexible. In principle, temporary work is the period during which a vacant position is occupied by someone other than its holder. It can also be mentioned in the case where a company with a temporary increase in activity hires additional labor to cope. But in the market, everything related to the temporary work sector—which is only temporary in name—is considered temporary work. This includes security and cleaning. In this very broad conception of the activity, "there would be more than 100,000 temporary workers, but between 10 and 20% of them are regularly declared," notes Patrick Cohen. In short, there are still many providers who disregard the labor code and tax legislation. These unhealthy practices tarnish the image of the sector, despite the good faith of some structured companies that are trying their best to improve the image of temporary workers by guaranteeing a work contract in a serious company with a good salary and social coverage. In some cases, temporary workers may receive the same benefits as permanent employees (car, phone...).
Published May 18, 2011
Online May 23, 2011
Lavieeco.com
