Morocco cements social state foundations

Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, has added housing assistance to a list of ambitious projects that aim to strengthen the foundations of the social state in Morocco.

The new housing assistance aims to help the poor and the middle classes access decent housing.

The new measures, announced by the Royal Office following a working session chaired by the King on a new housing assistance program, include a direct aid of 100,000 dirhams ($10,000) for flats that cost less than 300,000 dirhams ($30,000) and 70,000 dirhams ($7,000) for homes ranging from 300,000 to 700,000 dirhams.

Helping middle class households own their own properties is part of a push to build strong foundations for a social state and improving living standards.

Morocco has already launched an ambitious project to generalize social safety nets starting with universal health insurance, followed by making pensions available for non-wage earners.

It also plans to start cash-handouts to the needy this year in a move that aims to reduce vulnerability.

The new development model has set the goal of doubling GDP per capita by 2035 and urged measures to back the middle class by improving public services.