On the occasion of the speech marking the 19th anniversary of his accession to the throne, King Mohammed VI announced the establishment of a single social register grouping all social programs.
Since Al Hoceima, city symbol of the social demands that dominated the news in 2017 and 2018, the sovereign called for a reorientation of social action.
“It is foolish that more than a hundred programs of support and social protection, of different formats and being allocated tens of billions of dirhams, are scattered between several ministerial departments and multiple public stakeholders”, lamented the king in his message July 29 sent to Moroccans.
Redesigning the different programs into one should increase their effectiveness. “The households entitled to enjoy the benefits of this scheme, will be determined according to rigorous objective criteria and thanks to new technologies,” recalled Mohammed VI.
Here is the full text of the royal speech:
” Dear people,
By the grace of God, Morocco has been, throughout its secular history, a providentially united country and a harmoniously welded nation, at all times and in all circumstances.
The Feast of the Throne, of which we are commemorating today the nineteenth anniversary, is the concrete celebration of the Beia (allegiance) that binds Me to you. It symbolizes the Covenant which commits us mutually to demonstrate an unchanging fidelity to the constants and sacred symbols of Morocco and to make all the sacrifices to preserve its unity and stability.
The pact, thus sealed between the kings of this country and its sons, will always be an impassable barrier erected around Morocco to protect it from the maneuvers of enemies and threats of all kinds.
Thanks to this pact, we have overcome the difficulties encountered, we have worked in a climate of unity, security and stability, and so, we are proud of what we have gathered and accumulated in terms of achievements and achievements.
Indeed, because Morocco is our homeland, our common home, it is our duty to all to protect and contribute to its growth and development.
Patriotism, when it is genuine, strives to strengthen unity and solidarity, especially in difficult times. This is why free Moroccans never let themselves be affected by the vagaries of life, as overwhelming as they may sometimes be. Better still, face the vicissitudes, to face the tests and to meet the challenges, their faith is fortified and their determination increased tenfold.
I am convinced that they will not allow the negativists, the nihilists and other illusionists to use the pretext of certain dysfunctions, to attack the security and stability of Morocco or to belittle its achievements and achievements.
Because, ultimately, Moroccans are aware that it is the Nation, as well as the citizens, who are still paying the highest price for chaos and discord.
We will continue to walk together and work hand in hand to overcome the short-term and objective difficulties, and thus to create favorable conditions for the pursuit of programs and projects of development, generators of jobs and guarantors of a dignified life.
Dear people,
Achieving achievements, correcting flaws and addressing economic or social problems are all objectives that require collective, planned and coordinated action among institutions and the various actors, especially between members of government and the parties that compose it .
It is also important to overcome short-term conflicts, work to improve the performance of the Administration and ensure the proper functioning of institutions, because, ultimately, it is important to strengthen the climate of confidence and serenity within society and all its components.
In fact, citizens’ business should not suffer from any postponement or expectation, as long as they do not relate to a specific period. Moreover, the responsible political parties are those who stand alongside citizens, in good times as well as bad ones.
It is true that parties strive to fulfill their task to the best of their ability. Nevertheless, they will have to attract new elites and encourage young people to engage in political action, as today’s generations are best placed to know the problems and necessities of their time.
Parties must also renew their working methods and renovate their modes of operation.
The various political and partisan bodies are expected to be receptive to citizens’ grievances, to interact without delay with the events and developments in society, or even to anticipate their emergence, and not to sometimes leave disturbing turns untimely, giving the impression that they are not affected by what is happening.
Dear people,
The social question retains all my attention and strongly calls upon me both as a king and as a man.
Since My Accession to the Throne, I have always listened to society and are quick to identify its legitimate expectations. Constantly at work, I carry the unalterable hope of improving the living conditions of citizens.
Over two decades, the achievements of Morocco and the gains made in favor of Moroccans, constitute a real reason for satisfaction and pride. However, I have the feeling that something continues to be lacking in social matters.
By the will of God, we will continue the action taken in this area with all the commitment required and the necessary rigor. Together, it is up to us to identify the existing weaknesses and to provide them with the appropriate remedies.
The magnitude of the social deficit and the ways of achieving social and territorial justice are among the main reasons that prompted us to call, in the opening speech of Parliament, the renewal of the national development model.
Indeed, it is foolish that more than one hundred programs of support and social protection, of different formats and being allocated tens of billions of dirhams, are scattered between several ministerial departments and multiple public stakeholders.
In fact, these programs overlap with each other, fail for consistency, and fail to target effectively eligible categories.
How can one, then, hope that these programs respond effectively to the needs of the citizens and really impact their daily lives?
There is no need to recall here that Our criticisms are not an end in themselves, but an incitement to self-criticism, a virtuous and salutary exercise, if, on the word, are joined the act and the reform properly so called.
In this respect, we believe that the new initiative of the “Unique Social Register” (RSU) is a promising start, likely to induce a gradual increase in the performance of social programs, in the short and medium term.
This Register is a national registration system for families that can benefit from social support programs. Households eligible to receive benefits under this scheme will be determined according to rigorous objective criteria and new technologies.
It is a strategic and ambitious social project that touches large sections of the Moroccan population. Its reach goes far beyond the scope of a single-term government program and goes beyond a vision attributed to a ministerial department, a partisan actor or a political actor.
Dear people,
The ambition that motivates Me to improve the social situation of the country, goes far beyond the simple setting up of a device or a program, however important it is.
Therefore, I invite the Government and all relevant actors to undertake a comprehensive and deep restructuring of national support and social protection programs and policies and to submit proposals for their evaluation modalities.
For this, a participatory approach is required. It is also advisable to show a certain height of view, to register the action envisaged in the duration and to use celerity in the execution phase. It is also important to capitalize on prior learning and build on successful experiences.
While waiting for this reform to bear its full fruits, We encourage us to adopt a set of intermediate social measures, in keeping with the spirit of the Restructuring that we call for.
I therefore urge the government to initiate, as soon as possible, the development of such measures and to keep me regularly informed of their progress.
To ensure a direct and tangible impact, I stress the need to focus on the emergency measures to be implemented in the following areas:
- Firstly, to give a vigorous impetus to programs to support school enrollment and fight against school drop-out, starting with the next school year, in particular the “Tayssir” program for financial assistance for schooling, preschool education, school transportation, school canteens, boarding schools.
The aim is to reduce the burden borne by families and to support them so that their children can continue their studies and complete their training.
- Second: launch the third phase of the National Initiative for Human Development, consolidating its achievements and refocusing its programs on human capital development, the promotion of the condition of the rising generations, support for categories in difficult situations, and launching a new generation of income and employment initiatives.
- Thirdly, to correct the anomalies that plague the implementation of the “RAMED” medical coverage program and, at the same time, to overhaul the national health system, which is characterized by glaring inequalities and weak management.
- Fourthly: to work expeditiously on the completion of social dialogue. In this regard, we urge the various social partners to take into account the best interests of the country and to demonstrate a sense of responsibility and a spirit of consensus in order to develop a balanced and sustainable social pact, to enhance the competitiveness of the company and to strengthen the purchasing power of workers in the public and private sectors.
I say to the government: social dialogue is a duty and a necessity; it should be introduced and maintained over time without interruption. And I also tell him that he must meet regularly with the unions and communicate with them constantly, regardless of the outcome of this dialogue.
In this connection, I stress that I have always been convinced that the highest form of social protection is through the creation of productive and dignified jobs.
In fact, we can not expect job creation or the establishment of a modern and decent social protection system, without a qualitative leap in the areas of investment and support to the national productive sector.
Therefore, and more specifically, it is necessary to carry out three major projects:
• The first project is to have the Administrative Deconcentration Charter adopted by the end of next October. This instrument will give the local authorities the means to take their decisions and execute the economic and social development programs, in accordance with and consistent with the aims of the Advanced Regionalization.
• The second project involves acting quickly to ratify the new Investment Charter and activate the reform of the Regional Investment Centers by granting them the necessary prerogatives to fulfill their mission properly. Of particular note is the decision-making mechanism by a majority of the members present, replacing the unanimity rule currently in force; the grouping of the committees concerned by the investment into a unified regional commission; This will put an end to the blockages and pretexts invoked by certain ministerial departments.
• The third project concerns the adoption of legal texts:
o fixing, on the one hand, the maximum period allowed to certain administrations for responding to requests made to them in the field of investment, while stating that the absence of an answer within that period, takes the place of approval;
o and preventing, on the other hand, any public administration from requesting from a potential investor, documents or information that are already in possession of another public administration. It is, in fact, the responsibility of public services to organize a coordinated exchange of information through the use of information technology and new technologies.
Our wish is that these decisive measures act as a vigorous catalyst to stimulate investment, as never before, to help create jobs, improve the quality of services offered to citizens, stem the delaying tactics that all Moroccans know well, make the bed of corruption.
Moreover, these measures will be a lever for reforming the Administration: they will make the principle of accountability, making it possible to identify the dysfunctions that prevent the successful completion of this Reform.
It is therefore necessary to make these measures effective in the field of investment, with a view to generalizing them at all levels of the relationship between the administration and the citizens.
However, the correct application of the texts, as perfect as they are, will depend on the seriousness and sense of commitment that will be put there by each administrative manager.
We also stress the need to update business coaching programs, particularly those aimed at facilitating their access to finance, increasing their productivity, and training and upgrading their skills. their human resources.
The goal is to enhance the competitiveness of the Moroccan company, strengthen its export capabilities, and increase its potential for job creation. Particular attention should be paid to small and medium-sized enterprises which represent 95% of the national economic fabric.
The productive enterprise today needs more trust from the state and society. This is the path through which investment can return to the desired level, and the deleterious wait-and-see attitude will give way to a dynamic marked by the preponderance of a responsible spirit of initiative and innovation.
Indeed, the revival of economic dynamism is dependent on the level of commitment of the companies, the renewal of the business culture and an optimal exploitation of the numerous assets offered by Morocco. It is also important to take into account the challenges of international competition and, sometimes, of economic and commercial wars.
Dear people,
Our constant concern to improve the general social situation and to meet the economic challenges is matched only by our active commitment to preserving and enhancing the strategic resources of our country. First and foremost, water plays a key role in the dynamics of development and the preservation of stability.
God says in the Holy Qur’an: “We made water all living things”.
In this respect, the National Water Plan must bring remedies to water resources management issues over the next thirty years.
As far as they are concerned, the Government and the competent institutions are called upon to take urgent measures and to mobilize all the means available to deal with the urgent situations related to the poor supply of drinking water to the inhabitants and the provision of the volumes of water. water for livestock watering, especially during the summer season.
This is why We have constantly insisted on the need to continue the policy of building new dams, an area where Morocco is a pioneer.
In this regard, I wanted to continue this tradition, as evidenced by the thirty dams of different sizes, which have been erected during the last eighteen years.
Dear people,
The future of Morocco, like its past and present, is our responsibility.
Together, we have achieved many things in various fields.
Together, we will be able to meet the new challenges and realize the aspirations that we hold dear. On the other hand, nothing is achieved without the unity, solidarity and stability of the country, without faith in the community of destiny that unites us in joy as in pain, without sincere patriotism and responsible civility.
In the face of developments in our country, we need more than ever to remain attached to our immutable religious and national values. We must also constantly bear in mind the sacrifices made by our ancestors so that Morocco remains united, fully sovereign and eminently worthy.
It is, therefore, quite natural that We are seized at this moment with an emotional and deferential thought for the immaculate memory of the valiant Martyrs of the Fatherland, at their head Our August Grandfather, the late His Majesty King Mohammed V and Our Illustrious Father, His Majesty King Hassan II, may God have them in His holy mercy.
The moment is also conducive to paying tribute to the Royal Armed Forces, Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces, National Security and Civil Protection, in all their components, for their constant mobilization, under Our command, to to defend the integrity, security and stability of the country.
We also commend the humanitarian and social action of the Royal Armed Forces, both inside and outside the country. We are thinking in particular of the example of the Gaza field hospital to alleviate the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and to support them in their struggle, and that of Camp Zaatari Hospital. These missions come to add to the humanitarian and medical work previously carried out by Our Royal Armed Forces in several African brother countries.
I will be, dear people, as you have always known Me, the first to serve you, having always at heart to answer your concerns, receptive to your grievances, and guarantor of your rights and your sacred values.
“And whoever fears Allah, He will give him a favorable outcome, and will give him His gifts by means on which he did not count.” Verity is the word of God. “
