The rise in prices of several food products continues in Morocco, which raises concerns about the impact on the purchasing power of the population. The government has taken measures to limit the rise in prices, but still faces social unrest.
In a written response to a parliamentary question raised by MP Nadia Touhami of the Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) parliamentary group, the Ministry of Economy and Finance listed the measures taken by the government to mitigate commercial practices responsible for soaring prices and supporting purchasing power.
The ministry stressed that the government has assumed full responsibility and taken the initiative to take a set of proactive measures, such as direct support for a group of products or sectors and a set of regulatory measures to regulate markets, protect the end consumer and ensure supply.
The measures taken by the government include the allocation of 16 billion dirhams in additional financial allocations to maintain the stability of sensitive products, as well as direct financial support of 5 billion dirhams allocated to transport professionals.
The ministry also noted that electricity prices have been maintained at their current levels and that the end consumer has been protected from any increase through the support given to the National Office of Electricity and Water. (ONEE), up to 5 million dirhams, knowing that the State supports approximately 75 dirhams for 100 dirhams and 125 dirhams for 200 dirhams paid by the citizen in the electricity bill.
The ministry also pointed out that drinking water bills have been kept at reasonable levels, and referred to the increase in the minimum wage in the private and public sectors, the regulation of the administrative status of a group of employees and the generalization social protection, including health coverage for several categories.
Finally, the ministry mentioned the allocation of direct support for school textbooks of approximately 110 million dirhams, as well as the suspension of customs duties on imports of cereals, wheat and crude edible oils to reduce the impact of international prices for these products. The government has also activated income tax reduction measures in the 2023 finance law.
Overall, the government has taken a number of measures to mitigate rising food prices and support the purchasing power of the population. However, it remains to be seen whether these measures will be sufficient to ease social tensions and reduce pressure on prices.