فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
In a move to improve social justice and keep pace with economic developments, Moroccan Minister of Justice Abdel Latif Wahbi presented Draft Law No. 70.24 before the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives. The draft law amends Royal Decree No. 1.84.177 issued on October 2, 1984, focusing on increasing compensation amounts awarded to victims of road accidents involving motor vehicles, while emphasizing that insurance premiums paid by citizens will not increase.
Gradual Increase in Compensation
Wahbi explained that the draft includes a gradual 54% increase in the minimum and maximum wage bases used to calculate compensations, to be implemented over five phases until 2030. The minimum compensation is expected to rise from the current 9,270 dirhams to 14,270 dirhams in the final phase. This increase aims to ensure fair compensation aligned with rising living costs and inflation, enabling victims and their families to better cover material and moral damages.
Commitment Not to Raise Insurance Premiums
The minister confirmed that this increase will not raise mandatory vehicle insurance premiums, reflecting the government’s concern to ease the financial burden on citizens. He indicated there is an agreement with insurance companies to achieve this goal, though the funding mechanisms remain unclear. This pledge raises questions about balancing improved compensations with maintaining premium stability, requiring close monitoring of insurers’ and citizens’ reactions.
Economic and Legal Context
The draft law comes amid rising rates of road accidents in Morocco, exceeding 90,000 annually, causing significant human and material losses. The 1984 royal decree remains the primary legal framework for compensation but no longer matches current economic realities. The draft aims to update this framework to ensure compensations correspond to living standards, especially considering rising medical treatment and disability costs.
Expected Impacts
For victims: Enhanced compensations will provide better financial support covering treatment costs, disability losses, or loss of breadwinner.
For insurance companies: They may face challenges absorbing the increase without governmental support or financial restructuring, necessitating further clarification on the mechanisms.
For citizens: Maintaining stable insurance premiums is positive, but project success depends on transparent and effective implementation.
Challenges and Prospects
The draft faces challenges in ensuring financial balance and timely implementation of the gradual increase to avoid impacting victims. Its success also depends on cooperation from insurance companies and transparent execution. It is expected to encourage further legislation related to road safety or strengthen oversight of mandatory insurance.
Citizens and stakeholders are encouraged to follow parliamentary debates and responses from involved parties to assess the project’s effectiveness in achieving social justice and economic stability.
