Textile workers in Tunisia will receive a 20 percent wage increase. The international trade union organization IndustriAll announced this on its website on Friday. This is the result of an agreement between the Tunisian trade union Fédération Générale du Textile, de l’Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir (FGTHCC-UGTT), which is affiliated with the organization, and the employers’ association Fédération Nationale du Textile.
Last week, the General Labor Inspectorate, under the supervision of the Tunisian Ministry of Social Affairs, decided to implement the wage increase in parts. The increase is six and a half percent for 2024 and 2025 and seven percent for 2026. The textile workers are also entitled to a seniority allowance of one percent for every second year of service.
In order to restore the purchasing power of employees in this sector, an increase is important, a spokesman for FGTHCC-UGTT told IndustriAll. In addition, the agreement is intended to represent the result of a healthy social climate in the industry. IndustriAll General Secretary Atle Høie also emphasized that this was an important victory for the unions given the difficulties facing the Tunisian economy and expressed his congratulations to all workers and union leaders.
IndustriAll represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in mining, energy and manufacturing. Founded in 2012, the organization campaigns for better working conditions and trade union rights worldwide.
This article originally appeared on FashionUnited.nl. Translated and edited by Heide Halama.