Tunisia has developed five new regional employment plans for 2025, with an aggressive target of finalizing 24 more in 2026.
The goal is to revitalize local labor markets, combat unemployment, and promote decent, fairly compensated jobs across all governorates.
The strategy was presented by the Tunisian Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Riadh Chaoued, during his department’s 2026 draft budget guidelines presentation to the joint session of parliament at the Bardo Palace on Wednesday evening.
The Minister detailed several incentive programs aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, particularly through the establishment of community-based companies: Digital and Regulatory Support: A new digital platform and a national registry have been introduced to streamline and simplify the creation of these community enterprises.
Enhanced Financing: New financing options are being made available through the National Employment Fund and commercial banks, with five agreements already signed and seven more in progress. These measures are also being extended to support startups. Removing Obstacles: A study has successfully identified regulatory and administrative obstacles that the government is now actively working to remove.
By October 2025, 260 community-based enterprises had been created, engaging 15,000 participants, including 2,400 university graduates and 174 people with disabilities. These initiatives are financed primarily through repayable loans supported by the Ministry.
In a move to support regional development and enhance economic inclusion, Minister Chaoued announced the recovery of approximately 70,000 hectares of unexploited state-owned land. A new legal framework is being adopted to enable the development of this land through a co-ownership system, aiming to stimulate economic activity in lagging regions.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Minister announced that a central and local governance structure will be established to strengthen job creation capacity, support collective initiatives, and train specialized advisors to promote this solidarity economy model.
Chaoued also noted the finalization of a first version of the national skills and certification framework. This framework is designed to facilitate the mutual recognition of diplomas and provide an up-to-date database for learners, employers, and training organizations.
Regarding existing programs, the placement rate under the Professional Integration Contract (CIVP) reached 54% in 2025. The Minister specified that the current monthly allowance of 200 dinars will be officially reassessed to better support participants.
MK/AK/Sf/fss/abj/APA