Multi-faceted integration of Social Protection in Morocco

Morocco’s 2021 Framework Law 09.21 was ambitious in setting out a vision and plan for dramatic extension of key social protection benefits:

• Expansion of basic compulsory health insurance under an integrated framework (2021-2022)
• Extension of family allowances and related benefits to include households not already receiving them (2023-2024)
• Broadening access to pensions to informal economy workers and the self-employed who were not receiving them through the contributory system (2025)
• Extension of unemployment benefits through simplification and broadening of eligibility criteria (2025).

The vision for the “generalization” of the social protection system relies on simultaneous and concerted extension of contributory schemes alongside reinforcement of tax-financed protections for those living on low incomes.

Within this framework, the unification of the health insurance system stands out for its pragmatic acknowledgment of the challenges of managing two separate systems – one for those in formal employment, and another for those on low incomes.

Similarly, the extension of comprehensive social security to self-employed workers is a key feature of the recent and continuing reforms in Morocco.

The session aims to address salient question regarding the new reforms:

• What led to the decision to pursue an integrated model for health insurance in Morocco?
• What learning can be taken from the previous approach, and what does this mean for countries grappling with similar challenges?
• How do the reforms address the key challenges that self-employed workers face?
• How do the new policy and administrative measures improve affordability, attractiveness of the system and ease of access?

Agenda

13:00 – 13:10 | Opening and Welcome:

• Luca Pellerano, Senior Social Security Specialist for the Arab States Region, ILO
• Shea McClanahan, Senior Officer in Social Security and Social Policies, ISSA

13:10 – 13:40 |Setting the Stage: An overview of recent social protection reforms in Morocco

Exploring Morocco’s experience with the universalization of compulsory health insurance. What were the drivers of the recent health system reforms in Morocco? And what have been its key achievements so far?

• Badra Oudghiri, Head of department of research, communication and development, National Social Security Fund (Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale – CNSS)

Exploring Morocco’s experience with extending social security to the self-employed. Which measures have been taken to extend coverage to self-employed and other non-standard workers in Morocco? What is the significance of the measures in the context of the broader steps toward greater integration?

• Bochra Essafi, Head of department of quality of service oriented to the affiliated insured, National Social Security Fund (Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale – CNSS)

13:40 – 14:00 | Panel discussion

• Remy Pigois, Social Policy Manager Maghreb, UNICEF

14:00 – 14:25 | Q&A

14:25 – 14:30 | Closing

This episode is part of the webinar series "Arab Social Protection Compass: Towards Integrated Approaches for Universal Social Protection", organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and technical support of socialprotection.org. The initiative intends to put a spotlight on reforms and programmes geared towards fostering integration within social protection across the region and beyond, while contributing to stir discussion at the national level. Throughout the series, speakers will delve into both the theoretical underpinnings and practical implementations of specific reforms, aiming to inspire a broad audience of practitioners to replicate or scale up similar interventions.