Economic Expert Ridha Chkoundali Weighs in on Optimal Salary Increase Rate
Economic expert and university professor Ridha Chkoundali stated on Tuesday that "6% is the optimal rate of salary increase as a minimum, and it can allow for a minimal threshold of balance between the needs of citizens and the capabilities of the budget." Speaking by phone on Jawhara FM, Chkoundali affirmed that "purchasing power has decreased in recent years," emphasizing that "the level of income per capita in 2025 has not yet reached the level of 2017, which reveals a significant deterioration in purchasing power, especially since the real financial inflation felt by the Tunisian citizen is around 15%." Chkoundali explained that "the inclusion of salary increases in the Finance Law is a first in Tunisia," specifying that this has never happened, even during the 1970s, when increases were coordinated directly between the government and the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), which was considered a direct stakeholder in the government at the time. He added that "the government's unilateral decision to include salary increases in the 2026 Finance Law is part of a direct social approach," considering that the social role of the state requires making the decision to increase salaries without resorting to intermediary bodies, such as the UGTT. The Assembly of the People's Representatives (ARP) had approved the project to increase salaries and benefits in the public and private sectors, as well as pensions for retirees, for the years 2026-2027-2028. This approval took place during a plenary session last Saturday, as part of Article 15 of the 2026 Finance Law project, in the presence of Finance Minister Mechkat Salama Al-Khalidi, who did not reveal the rate of increase, which is to be set later by government decree at the beginning of 2026.
