Tunisia: ITUC alarmed by escalating violations of trade union rights

“The authorities have embarked on a systematic and coordinated campaign to weaken, silence and isolate ITUC affiliate the UGTT and the broader trade union movement. This constitutes a flagrant violation of Tunisia’s international obligations and a direct attack on democratic principles.” ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle

For years, the government has issued restrictive circulars that place political barriers between workers and their right to negotiate. These circulars, which require prior government authorisation before any negotiations can take place, have effectively paralysed free and voluntary collective bargaining, stripping workers of a right that is protected under international law and central to decent work.

The latest attempt to remove wage determination from the scope of collective bargaining through Article 15 of the draft Finance Law marks an unprecedented and dangerous escalation. Wage setting is not an administrative formality; it is at the core of collective bargaining. By attempting to unilaterally dismantle it, the authorities are not only breaching ILO Convention 98, but also tearing apart decades of established social dialogue and destabilising the foundations of industrial relations in the country.

At the institutional level, the suspension of conciliation commissions and the paralysis of the National Council for Social Dialogue have hollowed out the mechanisms designed to ensure peaceful labour relations. In parallel, the withdrawal of trade union leave, the cancellation of representative authorisations, and threats to long-standing practices such as the direct deduction of union dues represent deliberate efforts to weaken unions internally and restrict their ability to function.

These escalating restrictions are part of a broader pattern of harassment and intimidation targeting the UGTT, civil society, and any actor defending democratic freedoms. The summoning of the EU ambassador merely for meeting with a legitimate trade union organisation is a deeply troubling act that violates diplomatic norms and seeks to isolate Tunisian unions from the international community.

Even more alarming is the targeted campaign against Hfaiedh Hfaiedh, a senior UGTT leader whose prosecution and harassment constitute a direct attack on freedom of expression and the independence of trade union action. Such acts deepen the shrinking civic space and signal a dangerous shift toward the criminalisation of legitimate union work.

The ITUC reiterates that trade unions are essential pillars of democracy, social stability, and inclusive development. Attempts to criminalise union activity, silence elected leaders, obstruct collective bargaining, or sever ties with international partners will not be tolerated and cannot be justified under any pretext.

Accordingly, the ITUC calls on the Tunisian authorities to:

• Immediately end all forms of repression, intimidation, and interference targeting trade unions and their representatives.
• Withdraw Article 15 of the draft Finance Law and cease all attempts to remove wage-setting from collective bargaining.
• Lift all restrictive circulars and restore genuine, free, and voluntary collective bargaining across all sectors.
• Reactivate the National Council for Social Dialogue and reinstate conciliation mechanisms fundamental to peaceful and fair labour relations.
• Guarantee an enabling environment for independent trade union activity in accordance with democratic standards and international labour obligations.

ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: “Respect for trade union freedoms is not a political choice; it is a binding legal obligation and a cornerstone of any democratic society. The international community is watching closely. Tunisia must act without delay to restore rights, rebuild trust, and reaffirm its commitment to democratic governance and the rule of law.”