All Govt. Work Suspended in Tunisia due to Coronavirus

Arab World

March 24th, 8:16am

Tunis - Mongi Saidani

A general view shows empty streets at the entrance of Ariana city during a curfew to counter the spread of the coronavirus, near Tunis, Tunisia. (Reuters)

Tunisia suspended all work at all administrative state and public institutions until April 4 in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus, announced Minister of Public Service Mohamed Abbou. He called on institutions and public servants included in the new measure to abide by the rules of comprehensive quarantine and only leave their homes when it is required by their concerned departments, provided that any work that can be done remotely proceeds as such. Tunisia has 89 confirmed cases of the virus. It imposed a curfew last week and a general lockdown from Sunday that keeps people in their homes except to buy necessities. Member of the Tahya Tounes party Hisham bin Ahmed suggested that parliament also adopt a “work from home” policy for all its members and vote on laws that are a priority to maintain government work. The government has set a list of the basic services that must be continuously operated by minimal staff. In the event of refusal, the public servant can be forced to appear at the workplace, according to the public employment and labor laws. About 650,000 employees work in the public sector in Tunisia, amid criticism that about 120,000 of them do not actually perform their duties in exchange for their wages. As for the judiciary, lawyers have been authorized, when necessary, to attend courts to defend their clients, in coordination with representatives of the Public Prosecution and the heads of the concerned branches. Meanwhile, a group of Tunisian political parties announced the suspension of their political activities and support for the government measures against the outbreak. Head of largest opposition party, Heart of Tunisia, Nabil Karoui, confirmed that all of the party’s activities have been suspended until the crisis eases. The party was going to study the resignation request of 11 of its lawmakers in protest against how the party was being managed and its relationship with the ruling coalition and other opposition parties. Observers believe the coronavirus saved several political parties, including Heart of Tunisia, from sharp political divisions, now that outbreak has become the country’s primary concern. This also applies to the Ennhada movement whose leading member Abdul Hamid al-Jalasi had announced his resignation prior to the outbreak.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2196516/all-govt-work-suspended-tunisia-due-coronavirus