Tunisian Parliament Discusses 2027 Social Affairs Budget

The Tunisian parliament, comprising the Assembly of Representatives of the People and the National Council of Regions and Districts, convened on Saturday to discuss the 2027 social affairs budget. The proposed budget stands at approximately 4227 million dinars, marking a 3.6% increase from the current year. This discussion took place during a joint public session held at the parliament's headquarters in Bardo.

According to the joint report by the Health, Women's Affairs, Family, Social Affairs, and Disability Committee of the Assembly of Representatives of the People, and the Services and Social Development Committee of the National Council of Regions and Districts, the budget for 2027 includes various allocations. These allocations comprise 341.520 million dinars for rental expenses, 28.9 million dinars for operating expenses, 3.8 billion dinars for interventions and investments, and approximately 31.2 million dinars for related investments.

The budget is distributed across five programs, including 36.1 million dinars for the Employment and Professional Relations Program, 1.84 billion dinars for the Social Security Program, and 2.12 billion dinars for the Social Promotion and Assistance to Poor Families Program. These programs align with the ministry's focus areas, which include employment, social promotion, social security, migration, and Tunisian affairs abroad.

In the area of employment and professional relations, the ministry aims to continue ensuring decent working conditions by reducing individual and collective labor disputes, increasing the number of labor inspections, and establishing social dialogue structures. The ministry also plans to improve coverage in the field of labor inspection, enhance prevention, health, and occupational safety, and prepare a draft law to amend the labor code.

The draft law on amending the labor code will enable labor inspectors to play a mediation role in individual and collective disputes, helping to alleviate pressure on labor courts and promote social peace. Additionally, the ministry has prepared a draft law to regulate remote work in the private sector, aiming to make labor legislation more flexible and adapt to technological developments and rapid changes in the labor market.

The report also addressed the challenges posed by platform-based work and electronic applications on labor law, given that many workers in this sector are classified as independent service providers. This classification subjects them to various burdens and risks, despite being in a legally dependent relationship, highlighting the need for a flexible legislative framework to ensure their rights.

Regarding the social security system, the ministry is working on a comprehensive reform project, which includes preparing a framework law that outlines the basic principles for reforming the system. The system suffers from structural imbalances that have worsened over time, necessitating a thorough overhaul to address these issues and improve social protection for citizens.

Key points

• The 2027 social affairs budget is estimated at 4227 million dinars, with a 3.6% increase from the current year.
• The budget includes allocations for employment, social security, and social promotion programs.
• The ministry aims to address challenges in labor law and social security through legislative reforms and new programs.