House of Representatives Adopts Six Government Bills of Economic, Agricultural, and Social Nature
The House of Representatives adopted on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, unanimously five Government bills relating to credit institutions and similar organs, the sector of water and forests, compulsory health insurance scheme, and pension scheme. The House also adopted, by a majority of votes, the Government bill on the legal uses of cannabis, in a second reading. The adoption took place during a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki, with the participation of Minister of Interior Abdelouafi Laftit; Minister of Economy, Finance, and Administration Reform Mohammed Benchaâboun; Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests Aziz Akhennouch; and Minister of Labor and Professional Integration Mohammed Amekraz.
Government Bill 51.20 amending and supplementing Law 103.12 relative to credit institutions and similar organs is part of following the changes happening in the banking sector and improving the relative legal provisions to adapt them to international practice. The Bill involves three amendments relating to giving an organizational character to the joint circular that defines the methods of monitoring financial conglomerates. The second amendment enables applying various maximum conventional interest rates for each loan transaction instead of one maximum interest rate, as currently applied to all categories of transactions. The Bill also intends to achieve the respect professional secrecy applicable in European Union countries.
Government Bill 52.20 on the creation of the National Agency of Water and Forests comes to implement the novel national strategy "Moroccan Forests 2020-2030," which intends to raise the competitiveness and durability of the forests sector through innovating an inclusive and sustainable management model that generates wealth. The new Agency will be in charge of implementing the strategic orientations of the State's policy regarding the protection, preservation, consolidation, and sustainable development of the national forest estate. The Agency will also be in charge of fighting desertification, creating and managing protected areas, including national parks, managing wildlife resources, inland fisheries and aquaculture, preserving wild flora and fauna and endangered species.
Government Bill 35.13 on the creation and structuring of the Foundation for the Promotion of Social and Cultural Works for Employees of the Department of Water and Forests aims to advance the services provided for the employees of the said department by adding social and cultural services that meets their aspirations. It also aims to consolidate the administrative governance and respect the independence principle adopted by the instances in charge of managing the social affairs.
Government Bill 30.21 amending and supplementing Law 98.15 relative to the basic compulsory health insurance scheme for independent professionals and workers and other categories of self-employed people, and Government Bill 31.21 amending and supplementing Law 99.15 introducing a pension plan for independent professionals and workers and other categories of self-employed, people are part of carrying out the project of social protection generalization and adapting the laws in force with the new provisions included in the Framework Law 09.21 on social protection.
The House of Representatives also adopted, in a second reading, Government Bill 13.21 on the legal uses of cannabis, following the amendments introduced to it by the House of Councilors.