Alarm Sounded Over Growing Precarity of Retirees in Tunisia
The Secretary-General of the General Federation of Retirees, Abdelkader Nasri, sounded the alarm on Friday regarding the increasing precarity of retirees in Tunisia. According to his statements, approximately 1.6 million retirees live in difficult social conditions, with between 600,000 and 700,000 receiving monthly pensions below the guaranteed minimum wage (SMIG), sometimes as low as 300 dinars.
Invited on the airwaves of Express FM, Nasri emphasized that this alarming situation primarily concerns affiliates of the social security regime and reiterated the urgency of setting a minimum threshold for pensions, ensuring a decent standard of living. "We have sent several letters to the Ministry of Social Affairs to request the establishment of a national plan to improve the lowest pensions. A decent pension should not be less than 1,200 dinars, especially in the current economic context," he stated.
Due to insufficient income, many retirees are forced to engage in informal activities, such as collecting plastic bottles or building surveillance, to supplement their meager pensions. Nasri described the situation of retirees as "miserable and painful," launching a solemn appeal to the President of the Republic and the Head of Government for urgent intervention in favor of this marginalized group, which is at odds with official statements on consolidating the "social aspect" of the State.
Among the demands made by the federation are:
- A guarantee of a pension equivalent to at least the real minimum wage
- Improvement of health coverage, including access to medication and care in all health establishments
- Tax exemption for retirees, by abolishing the income tax applied to this category
The federation's demands aim to address the precarious living conditions of retirees in Tunisia and ensure they receive a decent standard of living.
