Ceiling on Age for Financial Inspector Exam: Fattah Establishes Fair Standards Aligned with Job Specificities
Nadia Fattah, Minister of Economy and Finance, confirmed that setting an age limit for the financial inspector recruitment exam does not hinder equal opportunities. Instead, it establishes fair and balanced criteria that accommodate the unique nature of these positions and reinforces the principle of competence and merit as the foundation for selecting candidates.
In response to a written question from Rachid Hamouni, head of the Progress and Socialism group in the House of Representatives, the minister explained that the field tasks of the General Inspectorate of Finance require high professional capabilities developed over a long career, justifying the age ceiling for this exam.
Fattah noted that the Ministry of Economy and Finance organizes various recruitment exams annually according to its human resource needs, while adhering to the legislative and regulatory texts that define the conditions for each exam. She emphasized that the age ceiling varies based on job nature. For the recruitment of second-grade administrators and first-grade state engineers, the age limit is set at 45 years, whereas it is 40 for third-grade technicians. Some positions in customs and indirect taxes have age requirements ranging from 20 to 30 years.
Regarding the financial inspector exam, the minister clarified that Decree No. 2.93.807, issued in June 1994, sets the age ceiling at 30 years for non-employed candidates and 40 years for employed candidates, taking into account the specific nature of the profession, which is characterized by a high volume of field tasks and ongoing effort.
She further asserted that lowering the age ceiling to 30 years reflects the sector’s need to employ talents capable of handling the demands of financial inspections, despite allowing higher age limits in other exams.
Rachid Hamouni criticized this decision, pointing out that it deprives significant age groups of participation and contradicts the principle of equality and equal opportunities. He urged for raising the age limit to address the rising unemployment rates among university graduates.
Hamouni also mentioned that the general statutory framework for civil service and Decree No. 2.02.349, issued on August 7, 2002, raised the age ceiling to 45 years for certain positions, questioning the rationale for limiting it to just 30 years for the financial inspector exam and inquiring about the measures the ministry would take to address this issue.
