International Workers' Day Celebrated Around the World
May 1st Marks the History of Workers' Struggles
Today, May 1st, we celebrate International Workers' Day, commemorating the struggles of workers two centuries ago. This public holiday was established to reduce the working day to eight hours and address the demands of workers worldwide, putting an end to precarious employment. Unfortunately, this promising start has declined over time under the influence of wild capitalism.
Employment Remains a Major Concern in Our Country
Under our skies, employment remains a major concern for all governments, and it is the source of conflict between employers and employees. Both sides are engaged in a battle, with trade unions and business associations taking part. Despite repeated debates on endemic unemployment, solutions and recommendations have not been implemented. Even initiatives to improve the employability of young people and active employment policies introduced after the 2011 revolution, in line with the famous slogan "Employment, Liberty, Dignity," have struggled to make a significant impact.
Unemployment Remains a Persistent Issue
Since then, we have returned to this burning issue without making significant progress. The numbers are stubborn: the national unemployment rate stands at 15.2%, with over 600,000 job seekers still without employment. However, there has been a notable shift in the role of the state in recent years, with a more social and protective approach. This has led to the gradual integration of vulnerable professional categories, such as construction workers, agricultural workers, domestic workers, and others subject to subcontracting (security, cleaning, etc.).
President Kaïs Saïed's Efforts to Eradicate Precarious Employment
President Kaïs Saïed has already begun to establish the legal and legislative framework to address these issues and has promulgated laws related to these categories, pending the finalization of related decrees. The ball is now in the private sector's court.
The President's Instructions to Accelerate Job Recruitment
Recently, the Head of State has given instructions to speed up the recruitment of long-term unemployed individuals who have not been able to access the labor market. He has also ordered the implementation of salary increases provided for in the 2026 Finance Law. These measures are part of the government's efforts to reactivate the social role of the state and lay the foundations for decent employment.
A Promising Relaunch of Employment Promotion Policy
While this relaunch of employment promotion policy is encouraging, the effort to integrate job seekers into the workforce remains insufficient. With a saturated labor market, an outdated development model, and blocked investment projects, finding employment is a daunting task.
The Private Sector Must Invest in High-Employment Projects
Ultimately, the ball is in the private sector's court, which must commit to investing more in high-employment projects. Employment and development are complex equations that embody the challenge of growth. In other words, one additional point in the GDP is equivalent to approximately 20,000 job openings. This requires a significant effort, as 100,000 jobs demand a 5% growth rate, and over 600,000 unemployed individuals, as recorded by the INS, necessitate a substantial investment.
