Union Stages Nationwide Strike In Tunisia

Government employees in Tunisia are staging a nationwide strike to protest against the economic policies of President Kais Saied, in the latest challenge to his rule.

Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail, UGTT the most powerful union in Tunisia has urged its one million members to observe the strike across the country to protest against government plans for a wage freeze and cuts in subsidies, aimed at securing a $4bn (£3.3bn) loan from the International Monetary Fund to ease Tunisia’s economic crisis.

Flights to and from Tunisia are being halted as a result of the industrial action.

The union says its motive is not political, but it is bound to be seen as another challenge to President Saied, who has effectively assumed one man rule for the past year.

The Tunisian employment minister Nasreddine Nsibi said the strike would cost millions of dollars during a financial crisis while the government was negotiating with international lenders to secure wheat, medicine, and fuel supplies.

BBC/Christopher Ojilere