
Chakib Alj, the outgoing president of the CGEM, presented a generally positive assessment during his final board meeting on April 15, noting both successes and unfinished projects. Two long-standing issues remain unresolved: the labor code, in effect since 2004, and a continuing education system that has been stagnant for over 25 years, benefiting only 1% of contributors. Alj stated that the current labor code is considered anachronistic by businesses and a major barrier to hiring, hindering small and medium-sized enterprises from offering permanent contracts and leading to a preference for external providers or temporary work. The CGEM has proposed structured solutions for adapting the labor framework to new economic realities, aiming to balance employee protection, business competitiveness, and job creation. Despite three years of discussions with the government, the labor code remains unchanged, with no legislative timeline set. The continuing education system is described as a failure, with approximately 2 billion dirhams collected annually from Moroccan businesses for professional training tax, yet only 1% of contributing companies benefit. Alj emphasized that this system requires a complete overhaul, not just minor adjustments, including new governance that separates the OFPPT, which manages initial vocational training, from a new, autonomous entity responsible for continuing education. Although Alj's three-year term was not enough to finalize this issue, he stated that
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.

The government is addressing repayment difficulties faced by some beneficiaries of the Forsa program, which has supported over 21,000 project holders since its launch. The program emphasizes accompaniment, with nearly 16,000 projects currently active due to monitoring, supervision, and coaching. For entrepreneurs experiencing constraints in meeting repayment deadlines, the government offers the option to request credit rescheduling based on individual situations, providing additional time to consolidate activities. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 4,600 rescheduling requests were filed. To date, approximately 1,400 beneficiaries have completed the necessary steps to defer loan repayments for up to twelve months, following an amendment to their loan and guarantee contracts. Other requests are still under review by financial institutions in coordination with regional stakeholders. The support system for the first edition of the program, launched in 2022, is provided by financial institutions and regional offices, while incubators support project holders from the second edition, initiated in 2023. These measures aim to sustain the entrepreneurial momentum of the Forsa program and reduce business failures, highlighting post-financing support as crucial for project longevity.

Meryem Belhoussine's research, based on testimonies from over 80 former Moroccan female parliamentarians, highlights the persistent exclusion of women from political governance. She identifies financial and sociocultural obstacles, such as limited resources for campaigns and gender stereotypes within parties, as well as "invisible resistances" like psychological violence and unfulfilled promises. Many women wait 30 to 35 years in activism before reaching parliament, revealing systemic dysfunctions. While quotas have significantly increased women's presence in parliament, they haven't transformed party operations, which remain opaque and influenced by informal networks. Quotas have often led to women being elected through reserved lists rather than competitive local constituencies, and are sometimes seen as political rent rather than merit-based promotion. Belhoussine notes that Moroccan political parties, despite constitutional reforms and legal requirements for female representation in leadership, often only partially adhere to these obligations without developing genuine strategies for promoting female leadership. She argues that the main challenge is no longer just getting women into institutions, but ensuring they have equal conditions, career prospects, and evaluation criteria as men. For the upcoming September 23, 2026 legislative elections, Belhoussine emphasizes that parties must invest in women in truly competitive constituencies. She advocates for democratizing the
Must ReadThe 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting concluded with the signing of several agreements across strategic sectors. These agreements demonstrate the commitment of both nations to deepen their strategic partnership through structured projects. The meeting, held in Rabat, signifies a new phase in the cooperation between Morocco and France.