Economist Habib Zitouna has sounded the alarm over Tunisia’s critically low wage levels, revealing that average monthly salaries stand at just 900 dinars (about $290) in the private sector, with marginally higher rates in public sector jobs.
During an interview with Express FM, Zitouna stressed these wages fail to provide workers with a decent standard of living.
The economist highlighted a particularly troubling statistic: only 30% of women aged 16+ are employed or actively seeking work, forcing most families to survive on single incomes.
“Current economic policies prioritize cost suppression to maintain competitiveness,” Zitouna explained, “but this model has reached its limits.”
He urgently called for transitioning to high-value-added sectors, noting Tunisia’s economy has remained stagnant since the mid-2000s due to insufficient structural reforms.
