Tunisia has a special program that allows certain public sector employees to retire before the legal age of 62. The program, which was reinstated in 2022, is set to run until 2028. According to Badr Al-Samawi, a specialist in social protection systems, the program aims to alleviate the financial burden of public sector salaries. To be eligible, employees must be 57 years old and have at least 15 years of service.
The program was initially introduced for a year, then extended for three years from 2018 to 2021. It was reinstated in 2022 and extended again in 2025. However, the process of allowing eligible employees to apply for retirement has been delayed. Al-Samawi noted that the delay raises concerns among employees who have reached the required age and are waiting for the application process to open.
To be eligible for the program, employees must submit their applications to their respective departments, which then forward them to a committee at the prime minister's office. The committee reviews the applications and balances the employee's desire to retire with the public administration's need for human resources. One of the program's key features is that the period between 57 and 62 years old is counted towards seniority.
During this period, the employee's salary and social contributions are still paid by the institution or ministry they work for. Once the employee reaches 62, they begin receiving their pension from the National Pension and Social Security Fund. Al-Samawi emphasized that the program only applies to public sector employees and not to those in the private sector, which has different retirement procedures.
The program excludes certain categories of employees who already have special retirement procedures, such as some teachers, customs officers, and military personnel. According to Al-Samawi, around 12,000 employees have benefited from the program since its reinstatement in 2022, with an average of 4,000 employees per year. Most of these employees were from lower categories, not those with special privileges.
A significant proportion of applications in recent years have come from the education and health sectors, which are facing shortages in human resources. This raises questions about the extent to which the program will affect the replacement of retiring employees. Al-Samawi noted that the program's impact on public sector finances will depend on various factors, including the number of employees who participate and the cost of their pensions.
The delay in issuing the decision to allow eligible employees to apply for retirement has raised concerns among those who have reached the required age. The law extending the program until 2028 was passed in 2025, but the necessary decision to implement it has not been made. As a result, eligible employees are waiting for the application process to open.
Key points
- The program allows certain public sector employees to retire before the age of 62, provided they meet certain conditions.
- The program aims to alleviate the financial burden of public sector salaries.
- Around 12,000 employees have benefited from the program since its reinstatement in 2022.
