This concerns draft decree No. 2.23.1000, which amends and supplements Decree No. 2.04.426 of 29 December 2004 establishing the list of paid public holidays in industrial and commercial companies, liberal professions, and agricultural and forestry operations. It also amends and supplements Decree No. 2.77.169 of 28 February 1977 establishing the list of public holidays not worked in public administrations, public establishments, and contracted services.
The first draft decree is part of the implementation of the High Royal Instructions establishing the Amazigh New Year as an official paid public holiday. Government spokesman Mustapha Baitas announced this during a press briefing following the council meeting.
This initiative also aligns with Article 217 of Law No. 65.99 concerning the Labor Code. Following the issuance of Decree No. 2.04.426 of December 29, 2004, this draft decree was developed to decree January 14 (Amazigh New Year) as an official paid public holiday for both agricultural and non-agricultural activities, increasing the total number of paid public holidays to 13 per year.
The second project stems from the High Royal Decision to declare January 14 (Amazigh New Year) as an official paid national holiday, alongside the first Moharram of the year of the Hegira and January 1 for the Gregorian calendar. This decision was proposed by the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM).