Tunisia will soon announce an economic recovery plan for 2023-2025, Economy and Planning Minister Samir Said said on Sunday, as the country struggles to get out of a deep financial crisis. Tunisia last week resumed talks with the International Monetary Fund on a loan package predicated on Tunis imposing painful and unpopular steps aimed at liberalising the economy.
“Reviewing subsidies, reforms of state firms and fiscal policies are reforms that would restore the state’s financial balance,” Saied said.
The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) rejected any plans that would include cutting subsidies, blocking reforms and complicating government efforts to reach a deal with IMF on a rescue package.
The international donors have highlighted the need for broad popular support in Tunisia for reforms to help tackle corruption and waste, meaning Saied would likely need the backing of the UGTT, which represents 1 million workers in the country of 12 million people.
The IMF has urged Tunisia to give up subsidies and its bloated public sector wage bill as well as privatise loss-making state-owned enterprises – all steps that remain very unpopular with the public.
TunisianMonitorOnline
