The creation of a joint committee bringing together representatives of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) and the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) was announced after a working session held Friday in Tunis.
The committee is responsible for following up issues of mutual interest.
In a statement to the press, UTICA President Wided Bouchamaoui said this new structure, which includes four members from each organization, will focus on issues that concern both workers and businesses. The committee’s works, which will also address wage negotiations and the social contract, will start next week, she specified.
UGTT Secretary General Hassine Abassi classified the topics on the agenda of the committee by order of priority.
Among the most urgent, he cited the review of mechanisms for establishing the social contract and monitoring social negotiations in the private sector.
He then spoke of “less urgent” issues such as taxation, training, retraining, social security and occupational safety.
This committee will meet periodically and will have the task of defending members of both organizations, he said, emphasizing the labor union’s rejection of any form of guardianship.
