Retirement reforms in Mauritania and Tunisia spotlight pension gaps and youth job strain

Mauritania is extending the statutory retirement age to 63 for civil servants and 68 for university teachers in an effort to improve weak pension benefits. The measures also allow some retirees to take board‑chair positions to supplement their income. Officials acknowledge that higher retirement ages do not solve the underlying low‑pension problem and instead delay replacement of staff, limit job openings for young graduates and increase pressure on the state payroll.

Tunisia is undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of its pension and social‑protection system to address an ageing population, a shifting labour market and the rise of informal work. The reform will restructure the three main public funds – the Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale, the Caisse nationale de retraite et de prévoyance sociale and the Caisse nationale d’assurances maladie – and broaden coverage while aiming for fiscal sustainability. The minister of social affairs emphasized the need for transparency, durability and inclusion of vulnerable groups.