The Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, established a “multipartite” Commission to evaluate and analyse the consequences of Covid-19 on the national economy. This Commission aimed at defining ad-hoc measures and responses as well as at restoring trust among the social partners.

The Commission consists of:

• Government Representatives;
• Workers representatives;
• Employers representatives, including the General Confederation of Algerian enterprises (Confédération générale des entreprises algérienne – CGEA);
• Think tanks;
• The National Economic and Social Council.

As a result of its first meeting, the Commission delivered a detailed and comprehensive report that was then presented to the Governmental Council on 22 July 2020 and to the Council of Ministers on 26 July 2020.

The Working Group established a draft report requesting “concrete and practical solutions with no theories or ideologies”.

The Prime Minister underlined that “dialogue between social partners and economical operators is a prerequisite to recovery, but in reality recovery would not be possible without common efforts from public authorities and social partners in a climate of trust, support and complementarity in their work”.

The report was also based on the indications of the Finance Commission that presented the sectors hit the most, namely transport, tourism, hotel, restaurant and energy sectors.

The employers raised various proposals, including tax and parafiscal relief measures such as the suspension of charges on entrepreneurs during the period of contamination, banking facilities and loans at favourable rates and zero interest.

Ms Saida Neghza, CGEA President, addressed the Commission with a brief analysis of the current economic and financial situation from a business perspective.

On behalf of CGEA Members, she proposed the following:

• An extension of deadlines for the subscription of tax declarations;
• An extension of deadlines for payment of fiscal taxes without penalty of delay;
• Deferral of deadlines of bank credit payment;
• Revision of bank rates;
• Cancellation of late payment penalties.