Social dialogue : Final stress before reaching an agreement
This is the final stretch for negotiations between the social partners.
“The agreement could be reached within 48 to 72 hours ” , trade unionists told L’Économiste. They are still awaiting the government’s final proposals, particularly with regard to improved incomes. Two issues are currently under negotiation. First, the general wage increase in the public sector. “ Discussions are focusing on the level of the increase, which should cover the rise in inflation while remaining within reasonable proportions ”, said a source close to the matter. Secondly, the partners want to reduce the tax burden on wages. “ If a change in the income tax scale is granted, it will only affect private and public sector employees. Those with professional income will be excluded «, added our source. The idea is to improve the incomes of the middle class in particular. At first sight, the Government does not intend to modify the income tax rates, but rather to readjust the income brackets that are subject to this tax. This change is expected to have a greater impact, even though 60% of wage earners are exempt. An increase in the minimum wage is also under discussion, but here, too, the level of the increase has not yet been decided.
Over the next few days, the tension between the partners could escalate before a balanced agreement is reached, especially in view of the game of give-and-take. At the time of going to press, the UMT trade union was preparing to send a letter to the Ministry of Finance in which it rejects the pension reform proposals. “ We refuse to accept any proposals on this issue. A letter to this effect will be sent to the Minister of Finance on Wednesday April 24 ”, UMT General Secretary Miloudi Mokharek told L’Économiste.
As with the draft organic law on strikes, meetings were held on pension reform. An outline was presented in the light of the commissions’ work, and the aim is above all to establish a timetable that will prevent the issue from being put off indefinitely. “ Action must be taken by September, so a number of points need to be addressed. Initial implementation is scheduled to start in 2025 ”, said our source who explained that one needs to establish the architecture of the target system: two clusters, one for the public sector and the other for the private sector.
“ In concrete terms, we have not yet reached agreement on a precise scenario. It is a systemic reform that’s taking shape, and the approach will be gradual ”, added our source. The idea is also for everyone to be informed, and for responsibilities to be shared between the national Government and public and private sector employers and employees.
Khadija MASMOUDI
