Labor law

The labor code

A labor code and sector-related union contracts govern professional relationships in Tunisia.
Adopted amendments in 1994 and in 1996 :

- Employee’s productivity considered when evaluating the salary.

- Temporary work contracts set. Fixed-length contracts set even for permanent jobs and may last 4 years.

- Working hours adapted to the company’s needs.

- Part of the salary determined on productivity basis.

- Staff firing or laying-off for economic and technological reasons.

- Ceiling set for unfair dismissal damages payment.

- Communication channels standardization into a single body called the 'company advisory committee'.

International agreements

Tunisia ratified seven labor international agreements related to the fundamental right to work.

Agreement N° 142 concerns the role or orientation and vocational training in optimizing human resources.

Agreement N° 159 concerns the re-adaptation of handicapped people to professional work.

A 1990 protocol related to Agreement N° 89 on night work for women.

Agreement N° 138 concerns the minimum age accepted to work.

Labor and social security systems

Labor contracts are freely considered as limited time working contracts. Businessmen can freely hire foreign managers supervisors up to 4 per company. Foreign nationals, who are non-residents before their recruitment, can choose another social security system other than the Tunisian one.

Bilateral agreements

Tunisia concluded social security bilateral agreements with France, Belgium, Algeria, the Netherlands, Libya, Austria, Italy, Germany and Luxembourg. The objective of these agreements is to guarantee the rights of expatriate employees as regards social security.

These agreements notably confirm the following principles :

- Equal treatment of citizens from both countries vis-à-vis social security regulations.

- Safeguard of acquired rights in the host country.

- Sum of carried-up insurance periods to apply for social security allowances.

These treaties cover the following social security fields in Tunisia :

- Sickness, maternity and death insurance.

- Family allowances.

- Old age, invalid and survival insurance.

- Insurance against work-related accidents and occupational diseases insurance.