In the first year since Algeria introduced self-employed status and established a dedicated National Agency, over 30,000 individuals have successfully obtained their self-employed cards, indicating a strong surge in entrepreneurial activity across the nation.
However, the complete integration of these new economic actors into the broader economic landscape hinges on the upcoming publication of implementing regulations related to public procurement. These regulations, currently under development, are intended to legally recognize self-employed workers as legitimate economic service providers, authorized to enter into contractual agreements with both public and private entities.
This future legal framework is expected to facilitate the establishment of secure contracts, guaranteeing payment for services rendered and mitigating previously common commercial disputes. Notably, in 2024, nearly 45 percent of the new self-employed registrants are operating in digital professions, such as web development, graphic design, and digital marketing – sectors experiencing high demand in the wake of the pandemic.
The self-employment scheme encompasses more than 1,300 different activities, with beneficiaries having already selected 95 percent of these available options.
In a related initiative, a program called “Mille cooperatives plastiques” (A Thousand Plastic Cooperatives) has been launched to support the acquisition of waste sorting equipment, offering financing of up to one million Algerian dinars (approximately €9,300).
SL/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA