House of Representatives Unanimously Adopts Two Government Bills on Social Protection and the National Authority for Integrity and Prevention and Fight Against Corruption
The House of Representatives unanimously approved, on Monday, March 15, 2021, two Government Bills included in the agenda of the extraordinary session. The two Bills are related to social protection and the National Authority for Integrity and Prevention and Fight Against Corruption. The adoption took place during a legislative plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki and attended by Minister of Economy, Finance, and Administration Reform Mohamed Benchaâboun.
In his presentation of Government Framework Bill 09.21 on Social Protection, the Minister noted that this “Bill aims mainly to protect poor and vulnerable groups and low-income families against hazards linked to childhood, sickness, old age, and job loss.” The Minister added that, by virtue of this Bill, “22 million Moroccans, 11 million of whom are enrolled in the medical assistance system ‘RAMED,’ and 11 million professionals, merchants, farmers, artisans, and self-employed individuals will benefit from Compulsory Health Insurance (AMO) and the same package of services and treatments accessed by workers of the private sector.”
According to the Minister, the Bill also aims to generalize family allowances and compensation for loss of office and broaden the base of individuals enrolled in pension systems. The elements of the Bill will be put in place following an exact schedule.
During the debate, the participating deputies commended this noble Royal initiative of launching this prominent project that enjoys peculiar attention and follow-up from His Majesty. The deputies also expressed their hopes for the success and correct implementation of this project in a way that overcomes the flaws of the health coverage system. Meanwhile, they called for speeding up the issuance of the legislative and regulatory laws accompanying this Bill to implement its provisions in the shortest time.
The deputies lauded the contents of the Bill on the horizon of establishing a social justice that enables access to services that protect the dignity of citizens and meet their needs. They also made some remarks regarding the contributions of the target groups, the means to consolidate governance in managing the project, the financial management of social coverage, the imperative of harmonizing the various programs of a social nature, and other suggestions that aim to contribute to the success of this project.
During the same sitting, the House of Representatives approved Government Bill 46.19 on the National Authority for Integrity and Prevention and Fight Against Corruption, which comes as part of updating the prerogatives granted to the Authority by virtue of Article 36 of the 2011 Constitution.
The Bill above defines the Authority's roles, formation, organization, functioning, and cases of incompatibility. The Authority will contribute to the national effort aiming to fight the scourge of corruption, entrench good governance, disseminate the values of integrity and transparency, address the increasing manifestations of corruption, in alignment with the recognized standards regulating the anti-corruption authorities, namely independence, and expanding the scope of intervention, combining governance, prevention, and combat.
The Bill will enter into force after its final approval by both Houses of the Parliament and as of the date of the appointment of the president of the Authority, its members, and general secretary.