Tunisia faces pension controversy amid 5% growth ambition

The Tunisian government announced a uniform 5 % increase in salaries and pensions for 2026, but retirees with pensions below the guaranteed minimum wage say they saw no change in their payouts. Economists argue the raise is offset by reduced public contributions, leaving the poorest pensioners effectively excluded from the boost.

At the same time, the cabinet outlined an economic plan targeting an average 4.2 % growth through 2030 and a 5 % rate by the end of the decade. The plan includes a new investment law, a “premium licence” for strategic projects, consolidation of investment agencies into a single authority, and a performance‑based incentive system for SMEs. Ministers say these reforms are intended to draw more private capital, improve governance and create jobs, but they must be paired with stronger social protections for vulnerable groups such as low‑income retirees.