The Tunisian tourism office union, part of the UGTT labor union, has expressed concerns over several measures taken by the Office National du Tourisme Tunisien (ONTT) following recommendations from control bodies. In a letter dated September 28, 2026, the union contested the cancellation of several benefits, including a milk allowance, work-related expenses, and benefits for staff stationed abroad.
The union stated that these benefits were acquired rights, some of which were established by texts dating back several decades. The union admitted that control was legitimate but argued that recommendations should not override existing legislation and regulations. Several of these cases had already been discussed with the administration, but the union claimed that responses were scarce, except for a meeting in October 2025.
The union cited several decisions that were being contested, including the cancellation of a milk allowance, a work-related bonus, and the withdrawal of functions assigned to certain executives. Staff members of the ONTT stationed abroad were also affected, with the union denouncing the questioning of "historic" benefits such as luggage and furniture transport, health insurance, and children's school fees.
The production bonus was another point of contention, with the union contesting the cancellation of part of it and insisting on the "complementary production bonus." The union claimed to have found texts from 1988 that framed this benefit and therefore rejected the argument that it lacked a legal basis. The union invoked the ONTT statutes of 1975 and 1999, as well as various regulatory texts and constitutional articles.
The union argued that the role of control bodies was to protect public funds and improve governance in public establishments. However, it believed that their observations and recommendations should not override existing legislation and regulations. A simple recommendation, in their opinion, was not enough to cancel a benefit that had a legal basis.
The union requested precise responses on each of the cases raised and asked that the manner in which certain control recommendations were applied be reviewed. The union also called for the intervention of concerned authorities to accelerate pending reforms, particularly the revision of the organigram, and for the ONTT board of directors to meet quickly to find solutions.
The union warned that it would not give up defending what it considered to be acquired rights and explicitly mentioned the possibility of appealing to control bodies, the administrative tribunal, and higher authorities, as well as using the media and justice. The dispute raised questions about the boundary between correcting management dysfunctions and questioning benefits considered as acquired rights.
Key points
- The Tunisian tourism office union contests the cancellation of benefits following recommendations from control bodies.
- The union argues that these benefits are acquired rights established by existing legislation and regulations.
- The dispute raises questions about the boundary between correcting management dysfunctions and questioning benefits considered as acquired rights.
