Social security: The challenge of paying contributions
Today’s challenge is to get everyone involved in the successful implementation of social protection, whose philosophy and financial equilibrium are based on solidarity. This is what Fouzi Lekjaâ reminded the members of the House of Councillors.
While the Government contributes 9.5 billion Dirhams (USD 950 million) for families unable to pay contributions, the situation is different for large categories of people. This is the case for self-employed workers who do not pay their contributions on a regular basis. Other groups who are able to contribute must commit themselves, responsibly and in a spirit of national solidarity, to regular payment of the sums due. To put it in figures, the amount of these contributions does not exceed, on average, 0.9% of the minimum wage, i.e. 180 Dirhams (USD 18) per month for self-employed workers. In fact, over 80% of the groups concerned have contributions set at less than 180 Dirhams. For example: the contribution for the first category of farmers has been set at less than 130 Dirhams per month, and that for shopkeepers at less than 150 Dirhams per month. Similarly, the contribution for most self-employed entrepreneurs and people subject to the unified professional contribution scheme is 100 Dirhams per month. On the other hand, contributions for people who can afford to pay them, but who are not engaged in any paid or unpaid activity, are set at just 144 Dirhams for many categories. In exchange, if people pay their contributions on a regular basis to the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), they will benefit on a monthly basis from guaranteed benefits worth over 600 Dirhams on average.
The Minister in charge of the Budget took the opportunity to report on the generalization of Compulsory Medical Insurance (AMO). Indeed, over 11 million beneficiaries have been registered under the AMO – Solidarity scheme, including 4.2 million principal policyholders. This unprecedented number exceeds the number of beneficiaries previously covered by the Ramed (Medical Assistance to the Poor) scheme who were automatically transferred to AMO-Solidarity from December 01, 2022 onwards, i.e. around 4 million families, said the Minister. According to him, this means that the Government has implemented the social protection project in record time. All the necessary measures have been taken, including the adoption of laws and regulations, the provision of financial resources, and support for the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) to register all the groups concerned and provide them with quality insurance services. In terms of communication and awareness-raising, and as an incentive, 3.4 billion dirhams (USD 340 million) in arrears were waived for self-employed workers, in return for payment of a single contribution for those carrying out more than one activity.
Mohamed CHAOUI
