Issue #12 of the Official Gazette of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria published on 23 February 2025:
Rights of Persons with Specific Needs, Waste Management, and Foreign Student Admissions

Issue #12
Year 2025
Key laws on the rights of persons with specific needs and modernizing waste management. New rules for foreign student admissions and ratification of agreements with Jordan.

1. Ratification of Tourism and Handicrafts Agreement with Jordan

Ratification of the agreement with Jordan to enhance cooperation in tourism and handicrafts, including investment, studies, training, and marketing. Annuls the 1998 agreement.
- Objective: Establish a general framework for bilateral cooperation in tourism and handicrafts.
- Encouragement of tourism investments and organization of meetings between operators.
- Exchange of studies, information on development and promotion strategies.
- Cooperation in thermal, therapeutic, and wellness tourism.
- Strengthening tourism training (exchange of experiences, scholarships, twinning).
- Joint tourism promotion and marketing.
- Development of tourism products and classification of establishments.
- Cooperation in traditional handicrafts.
- Creation of a joint working group.

2. Ratification of MoU on Social Affairs with Jordan

Ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding with Jordan to develop cooperation in social affairs, particularly the protection of vulnerable groups.
- Areas of cooperation:
- Protection, promotion, and empowerment of women.
- Child protection and care.
- Productive families.
- Care for the elderly.
- Empowerment of persons with disabilities.
- Social assistance, protection, and promotion.
- Establishment of a joint technical committee.
- Dispute settlement through diplomatic channels.

3. Protection and Promotion of Persons with Specific Needs

New law defining principles for the protection, promotion of rights, preservation of dignity, and a decent life for persons with specific needs. Repeals Law 02-09.
- Defines "person with specific needs," "empowerment," "disability-based discrimination."
- Principles: dignity, autonomy, non-discrimination, accessibility, social and professional integration.
- State objectives: rights protection, public life participation, early detection, specialized care, compulsory education and training, guaranteed income.
- Creation of a "card for persons with specific needs."
- Prevention, health and social benefits, rehabilitation.
- Free or reduced transport, housing assistance.
- Adapted education, vocational training.
- Professional integration: 1% job quota, financial contribution if quota not met.
- Accessibility to physical environment, transport, information.
- Participation in cultural life, leisure, sports.
- Establishment of a national council and wilaya commissions.
- Penal provisions for offenses.
- March 14th is the national day for persons with specific needs.

4. Amendment to the Law on Waste Management and Disposal

Amendment to Law 01-19 to strengthen waste management, introducing circular economy, eco-design, extended producer responsibility, and prevention.
- New principles: waste treatment hierarchy, eco-design, extended producer responsibility.
- New definitions including circular economy, eco-organization, single-use plastic products.
- National integrated waste management strategy and national information system.
- Obligation for generator/holder to recover waste or pay an "eco-contribution."
- Progressive replacement of single-use plastic products.
- Wilaya waste management plans.
- Mandatory biological treatment for organic waste and energy recovery from biogas.
- Strengthened penal sanctions for violations.

5. Admission Conditions for Foreign Students

Sets the conditions for admission, registration, and tuition fees for foreign students in Algerian higher education.
- Concerns Bachelor, Master, PhD, Engineering, Medical, and Veterinary sciences.
- Number of places fixed annually. Required diplomas and equivalence are mandatory.
- Application file via digital platform.
- Ministerial approval and medical examination before registration.
- Payment of annual training fees (including university services under conditions).
- Possibility of intensive language courses (for a fee).
- Visa and foreign resident card required.
- Fee exemption for Algerian government scholarship holders.
- Not applicable to Ministry of Defense institutions.

6. Appointments and Terminations of Functions

Series of presidential and executive decrees regarding terminations and appointments of several high-ranking officials in regional and central administration, and regulatory bodies.
- Terminations and appointments of Walis, Secretaries-General of Wilayas, and Heads of Daïras.
- Terminations of Inspectors General and directors of central and wilaya administrations.
- Appointments of members to the Competition Council.
- Other terminations and creations of senior positions.

7. Staffing of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency

Determination of staff numbers by job, classification, and contract duration for maintenance, upkeep, or service agents of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI). Repeals the 2012 order.
- Concerns contractual agents (maintenance, upkeep, services) of the AAPI.
- Table detailing jobs (professional worker, service agent, guard, car driver, prevention agent), their category, index, and number of positions.
- Total of 498 positions.
- Repeals the interministerial order of January 31, 2012.