News

Tripartite graphical negotiations underway in Tunis

Negotiations in the Graphical and Packaging sectors in Tunisia are well underway.

In Tunisia collective agreements are determined every three years and sectoral negotiations follow on from dialogue between the trade union centre UGTT and the government.

A key issue in the current negotiations - also underway in other sectors like banking and telecom - is pay (following recent increases in food prices and overall inflation running at 4.2%). Ensuring that agreements are applied in enterprises is an on-going process once an agreement is signed.

UNI’s Noel Howell paid a short visit to the Graphical negotiations - which, like in other sectors, are tripartite with union and employer teams chaired and conciliated by a Ministry of Labour official.

“UNI supports dialogue, which is important not just in dealing with the issues of today but also in preparing for the challenges of tomorrow,” said Noel.

Mongi Adberrahim, who is the UNI Graphical coordinator in the region, leads the union negotiators in Graphical, Packaging and Paper. Collective bargaining in Graphical has been ongoing since 1996, explained Mongi.

The Tunisian economy has been going through a gradual privatisation of state enterprises and is experiencing increasing numbers of joint ventures with foreign companies (many from France, the Arab world and southern Africa).



Union reps in a pre-negotiation planning meeting