House of Representatives Adopts Two Government Bills and Three Parliamentary Bills
The House of Representatives adopted, on Monday, July 25, 2022, two Government bills and three parliamentary bills. The adoption occurred during a legislative plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, with the participation of the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance in Charge of the Budget, Mr. Faouzi Lakjaa; the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Ms. Ghita Mezzour; the Minister of Equipment and Water, Mr. Nizar Baraka; and the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of Relations with the Parliament and Government Spokesperson, Mr. Mustapha Baitas.
The first sitting featured the adoption by unanimity of votes of Liquidation Bill 20.22 on executing the 2020 Finance Act. The Bill delimits and fixes the final count of revenues and expenditures in 2020 and closes the year’s statement of accounts. The Bill also approves the results of the execution of the 2020 Finance Act at the level of the general budget, the special accounts of the Treasury and the autonomously managed State services. Based on such figures, the Bill establishes the outcomes of the execution of the 2020 Finance Act at the level of the general budget, the budgets of the special treasury accounts, and the ones of the autonomously managed State services.
During the same sitting, the Representatives adopted by unanimity of votes Government Bill 30.22 amending and supplementing Dahir 1.58.008 of Shaaban 4, 1377 (February 24, 1958) operating as Statute of Civil Service. The Bill is part of the quest toward consolidating the rights of employees and enabling them to balance their professional and personal lives in a way that fits the principle of shared responsibility within the Moroccan family and implements the provisions of the International Convention No. 183 on Maternity Protection, adopted by the 88th General Conference of the ILO. In addition, the Bill includes a unique article that sets forth new provisions enacting paternity leave, fosterage leave, and nursing leave.
The first sitting was followed by a second one that featured the adoption of several parliamentary bills, including a parliamentary bill to add Article 137 bis to Law 36.15 on Water. The latter, approved unanimously, aims to provide a legal framework to reinforce public safety conditions and protect citizens from water search and exploitation dangers. This parliamentary Bill is part of consolidating the public policy intended for the mobilization of water resources for the service of social and environmental development through an extensive perspective that takes into consideration all aspects, including the provision of adequate conditions for the exploitation of the national water resources, and to guarantee protection from any possible dangers.
The same sitting featured the adoption of a parliamentary bill establishing and organizing a joint foundation for promoting social works for the employees and agents of public administrations. The Bill covers the administrations that do not have social works promotion foundations. The forthcoming foundation intends to create, develop, and manage the projects related to the social, cultural, sports and entertainment activities in favor of its members, their spouses, their biological children, and those under their guardianship.
The sitting concluded by adopting a parliamentary bill enacting the annulment and liquidation of the pension system for the members of the House of Councilors. The Bill sets the conditions and modalities for the annulment and total liquidation of the pension system of the members of the House of Councilors. Furthermore, under the same Bill, the payment of contributions by the House of Councilors and the payment of the outstanding pensions shall be suspended.