Legal Challenges Confronting Informal Economy Actors in Tunisia
A Major Obstacle to Integration
According to a study conducted by the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) in 2025, six out of ten unregistered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tunisia reported encountering at least one legal issue over the past two years. The findings were presented at a recent meeting on "Informal Economy in Tunisia: Towards a Shared Diagnosis and Integration Perspectives."
The meeting, organized by the National Register of Enterprises (RNE) in partnership with HiiL, provided an opportunity to discuss ways to ensure the gradual integration of the informal economy. The debate focused on the importance of a more accurate understanding of the informal sector in Tunisia, the structural and institutional challenges related to regulating this sector, and access to justice as a mechanism for economic integration.
Approximately 44% of the active population in Tunisia, or nearly 1.6 million people, engage in the informal economy and do not benefit from legal and social protection mechanisms, according to a national survey on population and employment conducted in 2023.
Key Statistics:
- 44% of the active population in Tunisia engages in the informal economy.
- Nearly 1.6 million people are affected by the informal economy.
- 6 out of 10 unregistered SMEs in Tunisia reported encountering at least one legal issue over the past two years.
Call to Action:
The meeting highlighted the need for a more accurate understanding of the informal sector in Tunisia and the importance of addressing the structural and institutional challenges related to regulating this sector. By ensuring access to justice and providing legal and social protection mechanisms, Tunisia can work towards the gradual integration of the informal economy and promote economic growth and development.
