House of Representatives Adopts 2020 Amending Finance Bill and Six Government Bills Related to Social and Regulatory Matters
The House of Representatives adopted on Monday, July 20th, 2020, Amending Finance Bill 35.20 for the fiscal year 2020 on second reading. The House also adopted six Government bills that cover the electronic national identity card (CINE), the system of targeting social support programs beneficiaries, the profession of certified accountants, and the creation of foundations for the promotion of social works. The adoption took place in a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki, with Minister of Economy, Finance, and Administration Reform Mohamed Benchaâboun, and Minister Delegate to Minister of Interior Noureddine Boutayeb.
In their interpretation of the vote on Amending Finance Bill 35.20 for the fiscal year 2020, the majority and opposition groups stressed the importance of assisting rural areas, advancing investment, stimulating consumption, raising the purchasing power of citizens, and regulating the informal sector. They also presented proposals to mitigate the economic and social repercussions of COVID-19.
Besides, the deputies considered that the priorities of Morocco after COVID-19 should be to preserve job positions, support the affected sectors, revive national enterprises, promote local products, and create new social solidarity and cohesion mechanisms. The adoption of Amending Finance Bill 35.20 for the fiscal year 2020 by the House of Representatives on second reading represents the end of its examination process in the Parliament. The Bill will enter into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette.
Also, Minister of Economy, Finance, and Administration Reform Mohamed Benchaâboun presented Government Bill 53.19 amending and supplementing Law 127.12 regulating the profession of certified accountants and creating a professional association of certified accountants, and stipulating transitional and exceptional provisions to acquire the status of a certified accountant. In this respect, the Minister affirmed that the Bill intends to overcome the impasse that marks the Professional Association of Certified Accountants and remedy the imbalances related to implementing Law 127.12, following a participatory approach that involved all the concerned parties.
Regarding Government Bill 04.20 on the electronic national identity Card (CINE), Minister Delegate to Minister of Interior Noureddine Boutayeb noted that the Bill intends to create a new generation of electronic national identity cards with enhanced security standards that protect citizens. The Bill also aims to develop this identity document to put an end to forgery and identity fraud and include new functions that align with the Kingdom's new digital transformation vision. It also intends to lower the mandatory age for acquiring the electronic national identity card (CINE) from 18 to 16 years.
In their discussion of the Bill, the deputies commended it as it responds to the aspirations of citizens and other actors in fighting forgery and identity fraud, and aligns with the Kingdom's new digital transformation vision. Also, the deputies urged the Government to implement the Bill and exempt citizens from presenting additional documents to benefit from some services. They also called for including Amazigh alongside Arabic and Latin letters on the card, under Article 5 of the Constitution and Organic Law 26.16 defining the steps of officializing Amazigh. Besides, the deputies called the National Security Directorate to pursue its efforts to generalize the electronic national identity card nationwide.
In the same sitting, the House of Representatives adopted Government Bill 72.18 on the system of targeting social support programs beneficiaries and the creation of the National Register Agency. The Bill aims to establish a holistic and integrative national system to register the families and individuals who intend to benefit from social support programs and create mechanisms to consolidate the harmony between said programs. It also stipulates creating the National Population Register and Consolidated Social Register, protecting the personal data of registrees, and creating the National Register Agency.
In the general discussion, the deputies agreed upon the importance of the Bill. They considered that it meets the high Royal directives that call for improving social programs' effectiveness and using objective and precise criteria to determine the groups that are eligible for said programs.
To advance the social services provided for the employees of communes, the officials of the Ministry of Interior, and the employees of the General Directorate of Civil Protection, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted Government Bill 37.18 on the Foundation for the Promotion of Social Works for Employees of Communes and their Groups and Bodies, Government Bill 38.18 on the Restructuring of the Hassan II Foundation for the Promotion of Social Works for Officials of the Ministry of Interior, and Government Bill 60.18 on the Foundation for the Promotion of Social Works for Employees of the General Directorate of Civil Protection.