Since the arrival of the Regional Multiservice Company, several subcontracting companies in the Casablanca-Settat region are today facing financial difficulties, and some are even at risk of bankruptcy.
The SRM took over the management of water, electricity and sanitation distribution services as part of a reform aimed at improving the efficiency of these services. However, this reform had significant economic consequences for many local actors.
Within the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE), employees expressed their dissatisfaction after the loss of certain benefits. At the same time, around a hundred small subcontracting companies, previously linked to ONEE, have found themselves without contracts since the transfer of responsibilities to SRM. These companies, particularly those responsible for reading meters, distributing bills and cutting service in the event of non-payment, have not been paid for their services. Certain invoices, issued since the beginning of the year, remain unpaid, exacerbating their difficulties.
Owners of land leased to ONEE, deprived of rent since the arrival of the SRM, are also suffering financial losses. Media reported suspicions of embezzlement and account manipulation, including a suspicious transfer of 8 million dirhams.
Despite a 60-day deadline for payment of invoices, some service providers have not been paid for almost ten months. This situation has led to workforce reductions in several companies. In addition, late payments generate penalties of 29 million dirhams for ONEE, while SRM considers that the debt still falls to ONEE.
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