All public sector employees will receive their salaries via Meeza cards by December, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said in a statement. The government plans to issue 1.2 mn cards during February-April, the minister said, adding that the government-issued cards currently in use won’t stop until the new cards are activated. The ministry said in August that it planned to distribute 5 mn cards by June 2021. Meeza cards enable users to withdraw cash through ATMs, make purchases online, and pay government fees through its e-payment portal.

Background: The government began rolling out Meeza cards in 2019 and trialed their use to pay salaries in August. Employees will receive a 30% salary advance at no charge in the first six months of using the card.

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