Morocco’s government has unveiled an ambitious plan to reverse the decline in self-employed registrations, a key mechanism for formalising independent economic activity.
The Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills says the initiative aims to revitalise the scheme by tackling obstacles that have slowed momentum in recent years.
According to Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Inclusion, Employment, and Skills, the strategy will focus on four main pillars: expanding access to social security, offering targeted training, simplifying administrative procedures, and improving financing options.
The programme also includes regional training and information caravans, alongside support services for accounting and administrative management.
The self-employment framework, introduced in 2015, has enabled hundreds of thousands of workers to benefit from registration, simplified taxation, and greater access to formal markets.
But recent data indicates stagnation, with new registrations falling. Officials attribute this to complex renewal procedures, limited credit access, and persistent competition from the informal sector.
Professional associations have welcomed the ministry’s plan but are urging further incentives.
roposals include partial exemptions from social security contributions during the initial years of business and greater access to public procurement opportunities for self-employed entrepreneurs.
Associations also emphasise the urgent need to improve banking services, noting that many small operators remain dependent on cash.
In response, the ministry is considering closer partnerships with banks, chambers of commerce, and digital platforms to expand financing and business prospects.
It is also working on digital tools that would allow self-employed workers to manage tax and social security obligations through mobile applications.
Experts caution that the plan’s success will depend heavily on widespread communication and on-the-ground support, particularly in rural regions where the potential for formalisation remains substantial.
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