Some 650,000 Tunisian government workers entered a general strike yesterday, and thousands gathered in major protests after the government refused to raise wages, a move that could exacerbate tension in Tunisia amid threats from lenders to stop financing the Tunisian economy.
This escalation is a real test of Prime Minister Yusuf's ability to manage a strong battle and whether he can go ahead with plans for crippling economic reforms amid a severe political and economic crisis gripping the country.
Thousands gathered in front of the parliament's headquarters in the capital and chanted slogans calling for the departure of the government of the witness. They demanded higher wages, raised banners reading "dignity strike" and "the right is not an advantage."
Protesters also raised banners calling for higher wages, fighting corruption and defending the "national decision", referring to pressure from the International Monetary Fund and international financial institutions to lend urgent economic reforms.
In several cities such as Sfax, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid, Gabes and Nabeul, thousands also gathered in protest against the government's decision to freeze wages.
The strike included schools, universities and public hospitals as well as ministries, and some services maintained the minimum functioning of the largest trade union protest in recent years led by the powerful labor union of about one million members.
For its part, the Tunisian General Union of Labor said it had officially decided to organize a general strike in the government job sector after it closed the door of negotiations with the government led by Youssef al-Shahed and to protest against its "evasion in fulfilling its obligations to increase wages of employees, , As well as subject to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund ».
Union Secretary-General Noureddine Tabboubi said the strike came after the Union had exhausted all solutions to the failure of the negotiations and after the government had refused to raise wages. The Secretary-General of the Federation warned of the "empty bellies" revolution if social conditions continued to decline.
"The sovereign decision is no longer in the hands of the government, but is in the hands of the International Monetary Fund," he told reporters.
The strike includes government officials working in the ministries, central and regional administrations, and institutions subject to the provisions of the General Basic Law on Public Service. The announcement of the strike comes as the government faces strong pressure from international donors to cut spending, freeze wages, and halt pledges to reduce the budget deficit and curb debt.