According to the French Magazine Le Point, Morocco continues to make significant strides in the realms of social protection and women’s rights. The nation’s ongoing transformation is evident as it takes concerted steps towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. With a focus on enhancing social safety nets and ensuring the empowerment of women, Morocco’s progressive journey stands as a testament to its commitment to positive change. Le Point insights shed light on the advancements being made and the path that the country is carving to achieve a brighter future for all.
As King Mohammed VI celebrates his sixtieth birthday, including twenty-four years of reign over the Alaouite throne, Morocco stands at a significant turning point in its social history. The challenge lies in rebalancing its development model to provide a strong foundation for the sustainable regional power that the kingdom aspires to become. And if there is a pivotal role to consider, it is that of the Cherifian sovereign, with his combined qualities as the Commander of the Faithful, guardian of the fundamental values of the realm, and head of state with a firm grip on strategic sectors such as the Economy, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and the security apparatus. In these areas, Morocco has changed significantly since 1999, the year of Hassan II’s passing. The country has strategically positioned itself on the global map of industrial and commercial value chains, rejoined the African Union, achieved significant diplomatic successes (particularly regarding the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara by the United States and Israel), strengthened its defense mechanisms through solid and diverse partnerships, and demonstrated efficiency in intelligence and counter-terrorism actions. This has elevated it to a country of international significance. However, on the domestic front, particularly in the social realm, the situation is somewhat different. Inequalities persist.
The Alarm Bell Rings Loud The alarm sounded loudly after the publication of the report commissioned by the king in 2019 to develop a “New Development Model.” This report highlighted the “worsening inequalities,” “slow pace of reforms,” and “resistance to change.” Its findings were stark: “The wealthiest 10% of Moroccans still hold eleven times more wealth than the poorest 10%.” This is unacceptable in a kingdom where the king’s social image is so strong that he is referred to as the “king of the poor.” Despite efforts made here and there, Morocco is ranked 123rd (out of 181) in terms of its Human Development Index in the United Nations Development Programme’s 2022 report. With a life expectancy of 74 years in 2021 and a score of 0.683, lower than other Maghreb countries, Morocco is considered a country with medium human development.
Continued Efforts Despite Challenges Despite the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) program launched by King Mohammed VI in May 2005 to combat poverty, precarity, and social exclusion, the country still grapples with an illiteracy rate of about 24% in 2021, coupled with a per capita GDP of $10,460, ranking 125th in the International Monetary Fund’s 2023 outlook report.
Moreover, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), due to the impact of Covid-19 and inflation, Morocco’s poverty levels have regressed to those of 2014. Additionally, as King Mohammed VI pointed out in his 2018 Throne Day speech, “scattered social programs” have encroached upon each other, diminishing their “coherence” and “efficiency,” thereby clouding the trajectory of social development. Now, more than ever, the need is to align social programs in a country where the unemployment rate remains high at 12.4% in the second quarter of 2023 and where 77.3% of the workforce operates in the informal sector, as per the World Bank. However, the country is not starting from scratch, as significant accomplishments can already be observed.
Expanding Social Protection Since King Mohammed VI’s ascension to the throne in 1999, numerous large-scale social programs have been implemented with the stated goal of mitigating economic imbalances resulting from rapid growth mandated by the head of state. Economic achievements, mainly driven by substantial investments in infrastructure, have effectively reduced extreme poverty and led to the emergence of a denser middle class. However, this has not succeeded in diminishing inequalities.
In 2020, King Mohammed VI declared, “The time has come to launch, over the next five years, the process of expanding social coverage to benefit all Moroccans.” This marked the onset of a true “social revolution,” including the expansion of compulsory health insurance to cover 22 million new beneficiaries, universal family allowances for 7 million school-age children, an increase in participants in pension plans by 5 million employed individuals, and the widespread implementation of unemployment benefits by 2025. To underscore the political will behind these measures, the kingdom has embarked on an unprecedented reform with an annual cost of 51 billion dirhams (approximately 4.7 billion euros), equivalent to 4.25% of Morocco’s GDP, with the general state budget bearing 23 billion dirhams (approximately 2.1 billion euros) of this cost.
Concrete Implementation of Social Protection Practically speaking, on the path to broader social protection, Morocco has increased the number of beneficiaries of health insurance from 7.8 million in December 2020 to 23.2 million in April 2023. Among these new enrollees are 3.6 million self-employed workers and their dependents, as well as 9.4 million beneficiaries of the AMO-Tadamon program. According to the National Health Insurance Agency (Anam), as of September 2022, 79.8% of the Moroccan population enjoys some form of medical coverage, compared to 74.2% at the end of 2021.
The daily number of applications submitted to the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) has significantly increased, reaching 60,600 applications, equivalent to 125 applications per minute. In response to this unprecedented influx, the CNSS has expanded its network, currently comprising 156 agencies. It has also digitized its services, including the launch of the “TAAWIDATY” portal (My Benefits), allowing the submission of family allowance requests and the declaration of children’s enrollment in school. This aligns with the king’s wish expressed in the 2023 Throne Day speech, where he noted that “this direct income contributes to improving the living conditions of millions of families and children,” addressing a real need of the population.
However, Morocco’s transformation is not confined solely to social protection. Another crucial area of change is women’s rights, which King Mohammed VI addressed at the beginning of his reign.
Women’s Rights: The 2004 Landmark Reform Considered one of the flagship reforms of King Mohammed VI’s early reign, the modernization of the status of Moroccan women in 2004 through the reform of the Moudawana (Family Code and Personal Status) is a pivotal step for understanding the new dynamics sweeping through Moroccan society. This event triggered vigorous debates between conservatives and progressives, vividly highlighting the tension between “tradition and modernity.”
The debate reached its climax on March 12, 2000, when both sides organized massive demonstrations in Rabat and Casablanca, respectively supporting and opposing the Moudawana revision. The situation culminated in a social crisis, resolved through the king’s arbitration. In his October 10, 2003, speech, Mohammed VI introduced “substantial” reforms through eleven measures, effectively making repudiation and polygamy nearly impossible while reconciling opposing views.
Two decades later, the reformist momentum ignited by the 2004.
