Oxfam points out shortcomings of government’s plan for universal social security

On the occasion of the International Universal Health Coverage Day, December 12, Oxfam Morocco and 11 other civil society associations and NGOs have highlighted certain shortcomings of the government’s draft law, aiming to generalize social security coverage.

In a report issued this Sunday, Oxfam mentioned the various problems it detects in the current coverage system, namely “the lack of holistic vision” in the draft bill.

The lack of a holistic view, in addition to the generalization of social coverage, should also work to activate and strengthen advanced regionalization and territorial governance, with an emphasis on reducing regional and spatial differences and reducing gender inequality, according to Oxfam.

The NGOs question the government’s ability to meet its goals, namely providing universal health coverage, retirement, and family compensation, gradually, for the benefit of all Moroccans.

Oxfam highlighted “the absence of structural reforms, particularly fiscal reforms, that would make it possible to change the mechanisms of distribution and redistribution of wealth in the country.”

Among the observations made by the network on the activation of social protection, was the issue of financing, which the NGO sees as incapable of guaranteeing sustainability and continuity.

Establishing a fair, equitable, and gender-aware social system according to the NGOs is not necessarily sustainable through this draft, pointing to the government’s lack of dialogue with civil society actors, bodies, unions and political organizations, which in theory, should accompany the progression of the reform.

Despite the shortcomings cited by human rights networks and civil associations in their report, they highlighted “the importance and urgency of this reform.”

Considering the recent epidemiological crisis, Oxfam says the step is a positive one, stating it must “take into account the transformations we are experiencing since the start of the pandemic, which widened the chasm of inequality, poverty, and fragility.”