Mourad Zemali: “Revision Of Algeria's Basic Wage Is Ruled Out Due To Financial Crisis”

Labor, Employment and Social Security Minister, Mourad Zemali, ruled out, on Sunday, during his visit to Bordj Bouariridj province (eastern Algeria), the possibility of the government’s reviewing of the issue of Algerians’ basic salary in light of the increases that are defined by the prices of food and a number of daily necessities in light of the country’s difficult economic conditions.

“We rule out reconsideration of the basic wage at least for the time being given the poor economic conditions in the country that is well known to the citizens”. 

“The state’s policy of subsidizing food, especially the basic one, of which is supporting the purchasing power of the citizens, will reduce the burden of life on them,  and therefore I consider the issue of increases in basic wages as related mainly to production and productivity”.

Labor Minister revealed that more than two million and three hundred thousand employees were integrated through the various institutions that were created, which is a sign of the efficiency of the various bodies that are created by the State to absorb the specter of unemployment, denying the issue of freezing employment in the public sector. It is not a freezing and a sufficient number of workers were hired, and it is not the public employment that creates jobs, but the economic institutions create jobs”.

With regard to child labor, the minister asserted that Algeria is one of the countries that made important progress in this area thanks to the strict enacted legislation”.

On the sidelines of the inauguration of the headquarters of the National Agency for Social Security Fund for Non-Employees, the Minister inaugurated the National Pension’s Fund that is provided with a green number, 3011, which enables the retired workers to obtain all information relating to their status without having to travel to the retirement center.