Tunisia Seals Pact of Stability Amid Economic Challenges
In the face of economic challenges affecting the daily lives of Tunisians, the government and social partners have signed a pact of stability. This pact includes salary revaluations and fiscal reforms, with Hafedh Amouri shedding light on the key issues in a social calendar that extends until 2028.
Professor of social law and former minister, Hafedh Amouri, provided a crucial insight on the airwaves of the Expresso program on Monday, May 4, 2026. According to him, the decision to spread salary increases over three years goes beyond a simple technical arbitration. It is a major political and strategic choice aimed at ensuring social peace by avoiding the exhausting cycle of tensions and annual demands. This programming now offers indispensable visibility to businesses for their budgetary forecasts, while ensuring workers have a more predictable income trajectory.
Breaking down the numbers, the expert highlights that efforts in the public sector and public administration have surpassed those of the previous period. This new dynamic shows a willingness to reduce disparities between different levels, injecting a dose of social justice into the redistribution of wealth. On the private sector side, a uniform 5% increase has been agreed upon for employees benefiting from collective agreements, a carefully calibrated rate to avoid suffocating small and medium-sized enterprises, the engine of the national economy. In parallel, the guaranteed minimum wage (SMIG) has made a historic step by aiming for the 600-dinar threshold by 2028.
However, Hafedh Amouri calls for a clear reading of these announcements. The communicated figures correspond to gross amounts, meaning the real gain in the citizen's wallet will be eroded by social contributions and taxation. For example, a revaluation of 120 dinars could represent a net increase of only 70 to 80 dinars after deductions. The other essential aspect of this reform concerns seniors. In addition to adjusting pensions, a significant fiscal measure will be introduced in 2027: the progressive reduction of the tax base on retirement benefits, a direct lever to support the purchasing power of retired workers.
Respecting these new salary grids will not be optional. From January 1, 2026, all institutions, including those that have already granted advance bonuses, will be required to conform to the new scales under the vigilant eye of the labor inspection. However, the former minister warns against the pitfall of inflation. If companies focused on the domestic market are tempted to pass on these costs to their sales prices, the beneficial effect of the increases could quickly evaporate. On the other hand, exporters, trapped in a fierce international competition, will have to absorb these costs without being able to adjust their tariffs.
In conclusion, Hafedh Amouri emphasizes that the facial increase in salary cannot be the sole remedy for the crisis. For these measures to be truly effective, they must be accompanied by deep structural reforms. Price control and the improvement of essential public services, such as transportation, health, and education, constitute the hidden but vital face of purchasing power. The success of this social triennium 2026-2028 will therefore depend on this fragile balance between monetary revaluation and cost of living control.
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