Morocco Raises Minimum Pension to 1,700 Dirhams in 2027
Morocco's 2027 Finance Bill raises the minimum pension to 1,700 dirhams and widows' pensions to 100%, benefiting 500,000 retirees and 431,000 widows.
Morocco's 2027 Finance Bill, now under review by the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives, would raise the minimum retirement pension to 1,700 dirhams a month, a first step toward the government's target of 3,000 dirhams under its 2026-2031 programme. The bill would also raise widows' survivor pensions from 50% to 100% of their deceased spouse's pension. According to Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco's Minister of Economy, Finance and Public Performance, the two measures would cost a combined 10 billion dirhams.
Who benefits?
The minimum-pension increase would benefit about 500,000 retirees, including 150,000 widows, while the full survivor-pension rate would benefit roughly 431,000 Moroccan widows. The measure comes as Moroccan unions, including the Confédération Démocratique du Travail (CDT), have been demanding an immediate rise in the minimum pension to 3,000 dirhams and warning of renewed protests.
| Measure | Current situation | New situation | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum retirement pension | Under 1,700 DH | 1,700 DH (first step toward 3,000 DH) | About 500,000 retirees, including 150,000 widows |
| Widow's survivor pension | 50% of the deceased spouse's pension | 100% of the deceased spouse's pension | About 431,000 widows |
A gradual rollout that weighs each fund's finances
The 2027 Finance Bill's presentation note says the two measures will be rolled out gradually, taking into account the specifics and financial balance of each pension scheme, with precise terms to be set later in a dedicated legal framework. The reform is part of a broader government programme that also plans to gradually extend pension coverage to groups currently excluded, notably self-employed workers and independent professionals, along with simplifying registration and contribution procedures to suit their irregular incomes.
Why it matters to Moroccans
The measure touches a wide swath of Moroccan families whose members rely on a retirement pension as their sole or main source of income, especially widows whose transferred pension has until now been capped at half of their deceased spouse's pension. The announcement comes amid a wider parliamentary debate over the 2027 Finance Bill's social measures, with parliamentary groups split between those welcoming its social provisions and those questioning whether they go far enough to address the rising cost of living.