Tunisia faces social unrest over unemployment and recruitment laws

Tunisia is facing growing social tensions as various groups prepare for a national mobilization scheduled for October 17, 2026. The movement, supported by the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) and several civil society organizations, aims to protest the degradation of economic and political rights. Regional grievances include environmental pollution in Gabès, demands for recruitment law enforcement in Sidi Bouzid, and labor rights for agricultural workers.

Central to these protests is the issue of long-term unemployment among university graduates. To address this, President Kaïs Saïed recently met with government officials, including Head of Government Sarra Zaâfrani Zenzri and Minister of Employment Riadh Chaoued, to discuss the implementation of Law No. 18 of 2025. This law is designed to facilitate the exceptional recruitment of higher education graduates who have remained unemployed for extended periods.

The discussions highlight a long-standing struggle regarding equal access to public sector jobs and the perceived injustice faced by graduates whose qualifications lose value over years of inactivity. Meanwhile, human rights organizations have noted a tightening of the space for social and environmental protest in the country since July 2021.