The Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) reacted firmly to the recent statements by the Minister of Social Affairswhich claimed that the salary increase provided for in the 2026 finance bill had been carried out in accordance with legal procedures.
In a press release published today on the site Chaâb Newsaffiliated with the trade union organization, the UGTT insisted on the fact that any modification of salary scales must be made exclusively within the framework of collective negotiation and in agreement with the social partners.
The organization added that the issuance of government decrees affecting salary scales in sectors governed by collective agreements constitutes an illegal step, subject to appeal before the administrative court.
The UGTT stressed that social dialogue constitutes the true guarantor of social peace and pay equity. She called on the government to respect the principle of social negotiation and to revise article 15 of the 2026 finance bill in order to conform it to the provisions of the Constitution and the Labor Code, while protecting the authority of the State against violations of its own laws.
The Minister of Social Affairs, Issam Lahmar, affirmed on Tuesday that the increase in salaries provided for in the 2026 finance bill was carried out in compliance with legal procedures.
The minister explained that the finance bill addresses salary and pension increases for the years 2026, 2027 and 2028, without going through new social negotiations with union partners.
