Salary Cuts Spark Dispute Between UGTT, Tunisian Government

Arab World

June 19th, 10:53am

Tunis- Al Mongi Al Saidani

Salary Cuts Spark Dispute Between UGTT, Tunisian Government

The Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) has rejected statements by Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh proposing to cut salaries of public sector employees and retirees due to budget constraints. Assistant Head of the UGTT Abdel Hafeez Hafeez said the Union refuses workers’ legitimate rights to be affected. Hafeez stressed that workers shall not pay the financial crisis bill as part of the austerity policy the government may adopt, This necessitates further negotiations, which the Union has already begun with the government earlier in June, to address the economic and social situations, he added. The UGTT bases its vision to restore the economic balance on prioritizing tax evasion measures and taking government measures to revitalize the economy. It once again rejects “the government adoption of any unilateral policy that affects the rights of Tunisian workers.” According to the UGTT’s Executive Office, it is necessary for the current government to implement what former governments have been committed to, including the increases in wages of public employees, scheduled for August. The Union also called on Fakhfakh’s government to find urgent solutions to some of the outstanding issues, mainly implementing the provisions of El Kamour agreement in the Tataouine region, southeastern Tunis, and solving the issues of urban workers and professors in order to help achieve social stability. It slammed the security approach while dealing with a number of peaceful social protests, requesting an end to “violations and repressive policies that may take Tunisia back to square one or push it into chaos and fierce reactions.” Meanwhile, former parliament speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar has launched an initiative, urging President Kais Saied to organize “national dialogue to end the state of political division and establish a true national reconciliation.” In a press statement on Thursday, Ben Jaafar said the current political situation “reminds us of the severe political conflicts that took place in 2013.” The aggravated socio-economic situation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown may make the situation more complicated, he added. The President is the only political figure qualified to sponsor this political dialogue and bring the views closer, having legitimacy and being independent of the political parties in the country, Jaafar noted.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2342951/salary-cuts-spark-dispute-between-ugtt-tunisian-government