Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) on Friday announced a nationwide strike set for 21 January 2026, protesting restrictions on union rights and demanding wage‑increase negotiations.
The strike notice, published in the Achaab union newspaper, intensifies the union’s confrontation with President Kais Saied, reflecting deepening tensions between workers and the government.
UGTT said the strike, which will affect key public‑sector services, aims to defend fundamental labour rights and push back against what it described as threats to union freedoms and collective bargaining.
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Analysts warn that the industrial action could cripple essential state functions and exacerbate social unrest as public frustration grows over economic hardship, deteriorating public services, and declining living standards.
The strike call follows mounting pressure on the government after recent measures perceived as suppressing socio‑economic rights and limiting the space for civil‑society organisations, raising concerns among human‑rights advocates about the trajectory of political freedoms in Tunisia.
UGTT’s warning has highlighted the government’s challenge in managing both economic difficulties and demands for social justice — a test for President Saied amid national uncertainty.
