The banking sector is observing a general strike on Monday, November 3, and Tuesday, November 4, to protest the non-fulfillment of professional demands related to wage increases.
In this context, Ahmed Jaziri, Secretary-General of the General Federation of Banks and Financial Institutions, recalled in an interview with Expresso that the strike had been decided more than two weeks ago, noting the complete lack of response from the opposing party, the Banking Council.
“It seems the other side truly wants this strike. We have no choice but to carry it out,” Jaziri said.
He added that the federation had already sent a strike notice, but received no reply from the Banking Council.
“We do not understand the reasons behind the breakdown of dialogue and the absence of communication,” he added.
A large-scale movement
The union leader indicated that the strike will have a significant impact on the sector, saying that the other party is fully aware of the consequences.
“We are facing an unprecedented attitude of obstinacy this time, marked by a refusal to engage in dialogue and even attempts to intimidate and harass employees,” he denounced.
Jaziri estimated that the strike participation rate will exceed 80%, though he did not have precise information regarding the continuity of essential banking services during the strike.
“We remain open to dialogue. The strike is not an end in itself, but a means to defend the rights of workers in the sector,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Tunisia issued a circular urging banks to take all necessary measures to ensure the continuity of basic banking services during the two-day sectoral strike on November 3–4, 2025.
