Moroccan Employment Minister’s COVID Fund Comments Spark Government Tension

The minister first declared that the deductions from the salaries of civil servants were not mandatory. He then specified that any civil servant can express his disagreement if he does not wish to have a deduction from his salary for the benefit of the special covid-19 fund. In this case, he would be invited to submit a request to his administration. These statements by the minister quickly angered the head of government, Saâdeddine El Otmani, reports Al Ahdath Al Maghribia.

The same source indicates that Mohamed Amekraz moved too quickly, effectively dismissing the debate on the issue. In addition, the article that founds and determines the calculation of the deductions does not mention the possibility of a choice, as the minister hastened to announce. Moreover, the issue does not entirely fall within his competence.

It remains to be seen whether the Minister of Employment and Professional Integration will pay the price for his slips.