Lekjaa: Morocco to raise direct social aid to 1,000 MAD
Fouzi Lekjaa announced that direct social aid will rise from 500 to 1,000 dirhams for 4 million households, under a new income-based eligibility index.
Finance Minister Fouzi Lekjaa told the House of Representatives' Finance and Economic Development Committee on Friday that direct social aid, paid to about 4 million Moroccan households, will rise from 500 dirhams currently to 600 dirhams in the first year, then gradually to 1,000 dirhams, as part of discussions on the 2027 Finance Bill.
Lekjaa said the government will gradually adopt a new eligibility index based exclusively on income, replacing the current index, which excludes households facing an unexpected or exceptional expense even when it does not reflect a real improvement in their financial situation. The shift is due to be completed by the midpoint of the government's term.
Mandatory health insurance (AMO) figures
| Category | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Registered with AMO | 32.7 million | 89% |
| Open rights | 28.6 million | 78% of 36 million population |
| Suspended rights (unpaid contributions) | 4.1 million | - |
| Not enrolled in any scheme | 4.1 million | - |
A cap on private clinics' share
Lekjaa stressed the government's refusal to let private clinics capture 90% of AMO resources, calling for public hospitals' share, currently below 10%, to reach at least 50%. He pointed to the role of territorial health groupings (GST) in achieving that balance.
Aid should not discourage work
Lekjaa said social aid should not become a reason to avoid joining the labour market, adding that the goal is not lifetime assistance, while saying he was open to extending the scheme's legal duration when it is revised.