Tunisia: Agricultural Workers' Social Rights Stagnant Two Years On

Tunisia's agricultural workers are still waiting for the implementation of their social rights, two years after the decree on their social protection was issued. The decree, which was enacted in 2024, aimed to improve the social protection of agricultural workers, but it has yet to be fully implemented.

The Forum Tunisien pour les Droits Économiques et Sociaux (FTDES) highlighted the lack of necessary implementing texts in a statement released on October 25, 2026. The FTDES criticized the absence of these texts, which are crucial for the decree's enforcement.

The decree was intended to address the social protection needs of agricultural workers, who have historically faced challenges in accessing social benefits. The lack of implementation means that these workers continue to face difficulties in securing their social rights, including healthcare, pensions, and other benefits.

The FTDES also expressed concern over the delay in implementing the decree, stating that it undermines the rights of agricultural workers. The organization called for urgent action to ensure that the necessary implementing texts are drafted and enforced.

This delay in implementation has significant implications for Tunisia's agricultural sector, which employs a large portion of the workforce. The lack of social protection for these workers can lead to economic instability and social unrest, as workers may feel marginalized and unprotected.