ZIHÛR EL-MEŞRIQÎ

Tunisia- Working women in Tunisia can take less annual leave than men and they are paid less than men. Like all around the world, women are the first laid-off employees in Tunisia because of Covid-19. They also face harassment at the workplace.

Call on Tunisian General Labour Union

28-year-old Sulaf H. thinks that working women face discrimination in Tunisia, “Men take more annual leave than women. Especially women working for factories face injustice practices. The existing laws are not implemented. Laws remain only on paper. The lack of a monitoring mechanism paves the way for employers to fire women. Most of the women in the factories work without a labor contract.” Sulaf H. appealed to the Tunisian General Labour Union, “They should control working conditions in the factories. Employers in the private sector should provide healthier conditions for female workers to do their jobs. Most working women and girls are subjected to bullying and harassment at the workplace.”

“Political parties didn’t keep their promises”

33-year-old Marwa A. told us she had been sexually assaulted by her employer at a weaving factory in Jendouba. “Political parties promised they would work to improve the working conditions during their election campaigns, but they didn’t keep their promises. The elected representatives only use women's rights for their interests.”

“Women are paid less than men”

40-year-old Mahrezia K. has worked in a canning factory for 15 years. She has witnessed that many women have been subjected to harassment at the workplace. Her salary hasn’t been increased for five years. “But men get a pay rise every year. Labor unions know very well what kind of rights violations women face but they ignore them.”

“Women are the first laid-off employees”

Rajaa Dahmani, the Economic Rights Coordinator of the Tunisian Association of the Democratic Women, told us the Covid-19 pandemic has affected working women in Tunisia. “Many women become unemployed due to Covid-19 pandemic. Women working in factories still face many problems as they work under difficult conditions. Women are the first laid-off employees.”

“Women face discrimination”

Feminist activist and sociologist Nahla Akrimi told us women working in the factories face discrimination. “As women’s rights activists, we met with employers to determine women's rights and improve working conditions of women. The employers allow women to rest for an hour or less but they allow men to rest for an hour and a half or two hours.”