Morocco is moving to address concerns that some beneficiaries of its direct social support program are reluctant to enter the labor market for fear of losing financial assistance, Budget Minister Fouzi Lekjaa said on Thursday.
Speaking during discussions in the House of Councillors on draft law No. 041.26, which amends legislation governing the direct social support system, Lekjaa said authorities had identified cases in which beneficiaries preferred to remain outside formal employment to retain their monthly payments.
According to the minister, some recipients have also sought employment without being registered with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) in order to continue receiving benefits.
To address the issue, the proposed legislation would allow beneficiaries to combine employment income with direct social support for a full year. The measure would also enable workers to regain access to support if they fail to achieve stable integration into the labor market after one or two years, under conditions to be specified in implementing regulations.
Lekjaa said the reform is intended to remove uncertainty surrounding the relationship between employment and social assistance and encourage beneficiaries to participate in economic activity.
“The objective is not to encourage people to live on between 500 and 1,000 dirhams per month,” he said, adding that the goal is to help citizens secure jobs that improve their living standards.
The minister stressed that social reforms must achieve their intended outcomes by helping families improve their economic situation and strengthening Morocco’s broader social welfare model. He added that the legal framework governing direct social support should be subject to periodic review and adjustment.
Launched in December 2023, Morocco’s direct social support program currently covers nearly 4 million households and more than 5 million children, according to government figures.
Lekjaa said the program costs approximately 2.2 billion dirhams ($220 million) per month and represents an overall financial commitment of nearly 62 billion dirhams.
He emphasized that the initiative should not be viewed solely through its financial dimension but also as a tool for achieving lasting social transformation and advancing the country’s social state agenda.
The minister added that, like other major reforms, the direct social support system relies on gradual progress over several years and successive government terms.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.