Tunisia-Kais Saied announces increase in guaranteed minimum wage in private sector and social reforms

President of the Republic, Kais Saied, welcomed on Thursday afternoon at Carthage Palace, Mr. Kamel Maddouri, Minister of Social Affairs. This meeting provided an opportunity to examine several important issues, including increasing wages and reforms required to improve working conditions.

Increase in the guaranteed minimum wage in the private sector

One of the main issues discussed was the 7% increase in the guaranteed minimum wages in the private sector for active workers, beginning next month with retroactive effect from May 1, 2024. A second increase of 7, 5% is planned from January 1, 2025.

These increases will have a direct effect on the pensions of retirees in the private sector, also profiting from a retroactive effect on the same dates, affecting around one million retirees.

Reforms of temporary contracts and subcontracting

President Kais Saied discussed at length subcontracting in the public and private sectors as well as fixed-term contracts. He underlined that these issues can only be fixed with radical solutions, eliminating past practices and stopping the exploitation of workers by employing replacements to circumvent new regulations.

Commitment to Workers’ Rights

The President insisted on the necessity to include provisions in future legislation preventing any attempt to deprive workers of their legitimate rights.

“The will is firm, and this must materialize through new laws aimed at abolishing all forms of precarious work and labour trafficking, under the provisions of the Constitution guaranteeing the basic rights of workers and the right of every citizen to work in dignified conditions and with a fair wage,” said Saied.