Morocco-Italy Social Security Deal Still Awaiting Ratification After 32 Years
Some years of contributions in Italy, others in Morocco, but they cannot automatically be added together to qualify for an Italian pension. A new circular from Italy’s pension agency clarifies the rights of workers who have worked in several countries. For affected Moroccans, an agreement signed in 1994 is still awaiting entry into force.
On February 18, 1994, Morocco and Italy signed an agreement in Rome to protect their workers’ social rights. Thirty-two years later, the text is still awaiting approval by the Italian Parliament. Rabat had ratified it as early as April 29, 1998. The delay directly affects Moroccans who have divided their careers between the two countries.
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The problem arises when a pension is calculated. Take an employee who paid contributions for ten years in Italy, then ten years in Morocco. In the absence of an applicable agreement between the two states, the 20 years of work cannot automatically be added together to qualify for an Italian pension. Each system assesses eligibility according to its own rules.
On Tuesday, October 20, Italy’s National Social Security Institute (INPS) published a new circular on international pensions. It sets out the conditions under which periods of contributions made abroad may be taken into account to qualify for certain Italian pensions.
The system covers, in particular, careers in the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or countries linked to Italy by an agreement allowing insurance periods to be combined. A Moroccan worker who paid contributions in Italy and France can therefore benefit from these European rules, provided they meet the conditions.
An agreement ratified in Morocco, still awaiting approval in Italy
The difference is clear in official Italian documents. The Italian Consulate General in Nice lists Morocco among the countries whose social security agreement has been signed but not ratified. Tunisia, by contrast, is listed among the states with an agreement in force with Rome.
The October 20 circular also provides an important clarification: a pension already granted abroad may be taken into account when assessing entitlement to an Italian pension. Foreign insurance periods may count toward meeting the eligibility requirements for a pension, while the portion paid by Italy is based on contributions made under its own systems.
In response to the situation, unions in both countries are stepping up their efforts. On February 9, 2026, Italy’s CGIL union and its assistance organization INCA brought together union and institutional representatives in Rabat to call for ratification of the agreement. According to INCA-CGIL, two Italian MPs had submitted a resolution six days earlier calling on the government to restart the process.
Retirees who already have pension entitlements in Italy can, for their part, receive their pension abroad. INPS arranges these payments in around 160 countries, including by bank transfer. For careers split between Italy and Morocco, the challenge remains getting the contribution years on both sides of the Mediterranean recognized together.
