Algerian tripartite meeting eyes 7% growth rate by 2019

The 17th tripartite meeting, bringing together Government-Union-Employers, decided at the end of their proceedings to accelerate the implementation of the National Economic and Social Growth Pact’s Commitments and welcomed the return of consumer credit and the repeal of Article 87a of the Labour Code, as from 1st January 2015.
It was also agreed to monitor the implementation of the Pact commitments through the tripartite committee established for that.
The Government, the Central Union and the Employer Organizations also pledged to "make every effort to achieve an economic growth rate of 7% in 2019, according to the joint statement of the 17th Tripartite meeting, attended by Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and members of government.
The three partners have also committed to pay special attention to the training and quality of human resources by encouraging training and coaching of skilled labor in a view to reached the economic goals. Thus, they have welcomed the signing last Tuesday of the framework agreement for the development of professional qualifications and skills of workers, between 15 ministries, UGTA (General Union of Algerian Workers) and 6 employers' organizations.
The meeting also stressed the need to improve business climate by simplifying procedures for company creation, particularly by providing land bases and access to credit and quality public services.
The importance of modernizing economic administration and the fight against the slow and bureaucratic behaviors and decentralization of the decision making to ensure better public service were also highlighted.
Regarding the return to consumer credit, the Tripartite has welcomed the move and called for the implementation of the regulatory framework governing consumer credit for the beginning of 2015.
Concerning the repeal of Article 87a of Law 90-11 on labor relations, the participants in the tripartite welcomed the decision taken by the President of the Republic which will allow "a significant improvement in the workers’ purchasing power, especially low occupational groups."
Finance Minister Mohamed Djellab, said that the new Article 87a of the Labour Code will be drafted "after a debate involving all stakeholders."
Moreover, Prime Minister Sellal affirmed at the opening session that the distribution of wealth "should be fair," saying that the policy of subsidy of general consumer goods will be maintained by the state to "support the disadvantaged categories."