After Failed Negotiations with the Government: Nationwide Strike in Tunisia’s Land Transport Sector

After Failed Negotiations with the Government: Nationwide Strike in Tunisia’s Land Transport Sector

Tunis – July 30, 2025
Land transport workers across Tunisia launched a nationwide strike on Tuesday, following a call by the General Federation of Transport, affiliated with the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT). The strike comes after failed rounds of negotiations with the Ministry of Transport and the government’s refusal to meet the workers’ professional and social demands.

The strike affects all forms of non-scheduled public land transport, including individual taxis, shared taxis, rural transport, and intercity transport. The action has paralyzed mobility in several governorates and sparked widespread frustration among citizens.

The General Federation of Transport stated that the strike decision was taken in response to the government’s disregard for previously agreed-upon commitments, particularly:
• The regularization of the professional status of active workers in the sector.
• A revision of the current subsidy system.
• Reforming the legal framework governing the profession.
• Providing tax and social benefits that respect the dignity of workers in this vital sector.

The federation emphasized that the strike is a means to defend workers’ rights and protest the worsening of their living conditions, especially in light of repeated hikes in fuel and spare parts prices and the absence of serious compensatory measures.

ATUC Expresses Full Solidarity

The Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) expressed its full solidarity with the UGTT and the General Federation of Transport, and voiced its support for the demands of transport workers in Tunisia as part of the broader Arab trade union struggle for social justice and dignity in work.

ATUC stressed that genuine social dialogue cannot be built on postponed promises, but must be based on concrete decisions that honor prior commitments and uphold workers’ fundamental rights. It called on the Tunisian government to return to the negotiation table with seriousness and responsibility.

Land Transport: A Vital Sector That Cannot Be Ignored

In light of the severe economic and social crisis in Tunisia, land transport workers are among the most vulnerable and economically pressured segments of the labor force. ATUC reaffirms that supporting this category of workers and meeting their just demands is a prerequisite for ensuring the sector’s stability and the continuity of essential public services that affect the daily lives of citizens.