Working in Tunisia

Tunisia is currently in the process of liberalisation which is why it will be quite hard to paint the economic picture of the country. However, it is evident that the reforms and fiscal planning have positive impact considering that there are more employment opportunities not just for locals but for expats as well.

In 2014, Tunisia was ranked as the 5^th country in Africa that has the highest human development index. It also recorded an impressive Gross Domestic Product of USD 124 billion in terms of Purchasing Power Parity. The Tunisian economy is built in three leading industries: textiles, tourism and mining. However in 2015, the terror attack on Bardo National Museum deeply wounded the country’s tourism industry and led many to believe that this economic bedrock has finally collapsed. But Tunisia is a country that continues to fight and the government is taking measures to solve the unemployment problem by empowering other sectors that can increase and create new job opportunities.

Tunisian Job Market

With Tunisia's rapidly developing economy, employment opportunities are mainly found in manufacturing industries, healthcare, insurance, banking, real estate, and hospitality sectors. Agriculture is also one of the main pillars of the Tunisian economies, and it employs a large part of its workforce. One can easily get a job in petrochemical and construction industries.

The government has created a goal to create 10,000 IT jobs per year. It is said that compared to Europe, the labour cost in Tunisia is less expensive, and IT graduates have a bigger chance of getting a job with local companies and European offshore companies. Today, Tunisia is home to multinational companies like Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Microsoft, and Philips.

Average Salary and Work Hours

The Tunisian minimum wage differs depending on the sector. Those who work in the industrial sector have a minimum wage of TND 340 or USD 148 per month for a 48-hour work week of TND 290 or USD 126 for a 40-hour work week while employees under the agricultural sector have a minimum wage of TND78.00 or USD6.00 per day. The average monthly salary, on the other hand, is at TND 2,435 or USD 1,065.

For most sectors, there is a standard 48-hour workweek with one 24-hour rest period per week. Workdays are shorter during Ramadan. Overtime is paid 125% of the premium pay. The maximum days of work per week is six days and those who will work on a weekly rest day are entitled to 100% of their hourly pay. Expats are also entitled to 18 days of paid annual leave after one year of tenure (working days) in the company.

Tunisian Taxes

The Tunisian standard corporate tax rate is at 30%. However, for petroleum, hydrocarbons, telecommunications companies' the rate is at 35% while agriculture and fishing companies are taxed at 10% rate. Income tax in Tunisia is at a progressive rate ranging from 0 to 35%. Residents of Tunisia are subject to Tunisian income tax on worldwide employment income.

Work Culture and Etiquette

Islam is practised by 98% of the Tunisian population which means that it also significantly affects the local work culture. Expats in this country should first and foremost, be sensitive towards their Muslim colleagues and their practices. For example, Muslims pray five times a day and Friday is considered as a holiday when almost all businesses and establishments are closed. During the holy month of Ramadan, Tunisians fast from dawn to dusk and only work six hours per day.

The handshake is the customary greeting in Tunisia but is not commonly exchanged among men and women. If a Tunisian woman doesn’t extend her hand, the man should just bow his head as an acknowledgement when being introduced. French is the corporate language in Tunisia but English is also widely used. When it comes to dress code, men are advised to wear dark coloured suits while women should prefer wearing dresses or skirts that cover their knees and most of their arms.