"Pooling all the country's active forces around a national project that meets the Tunisian people's expectations is the only way to salvation," said Monday, Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Secretary-General Noureddine Taboubi.
In an address delivered at a ceremony held at the Convention Centre in Tunis to observe the Labour Day on May 1, Taboubi underlined the importance of launching a national dialogue based on transparency and the effective participation of all the country's active forces for the country's interest in order to draw up a national project of reforms based on breaking with the current economic model, own resources and wealth creation.
Speaking before hundreds of trade unionists from all regions of the country, the UGTT Secretary General recalled that the central trade union, the Bar Association, the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights and the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights have launched an initiative to bring the country out of the crisis and to pool all the country's active forces around a national project that guarantees economic recovery, development, social equity and the enforcement of the law in order to ensure peace and stability and save the country from possible bankruptcy.
'This initiative will be submitted to the Presidency of the Republic in hope of launching a national dialogue on real reforms in all sectors to ensure quality education, care for all Tunisians and fight against irregular migration of young people and the brain drain and national skills," Taboubi said.
He added: "Today we must rely on our national competences and not give in to international pressure. We must also reboot the national economy and create wealth through the launch of major projects with high employability."
He considered that the equal sharing of sacrifices within the framework of a participatory national project based on the valuation of the country's own resources and national competences and the promotion of work is impossible without the involvement of all the country's active forces, with the exception of those parties involved in terrorism and corruption.
"The independence of the national decision hinges on the national unity for the defence of the country and the rejection of any interference, notably during negotiations with international institutions," he stated.
After a break during the month of Ramadan, it is time to resume peaceful protest movements to defend the economic and social rights of workers, he urged.
Taboubi called, in this regard, on the government to implement all agreements signed with the UGTT to guarantee the economic and social rights of workers in all sectors.
The secretary general underscored the importance of respecting trade union rights and guaranteeing the independence of justice and a free press, reaffirming the UGTT's commitment to democracy and freedom.
"In the current context characterised by rising prices and worsening purchasing power, it is time to enforce the signed agreements for wage increases, the annual revision of the guaranteed minimum wage, the increase in the subsidy granted to poor families and the raising of retirement pensions," he indicated.
"It is also time to make a decision to save the school year and give teachers their rights," he added.
Taboubi assured that the arrest and harassment of trade unionists and the launching of smear campaigns against the central trade union will not prevent the UGTT from carrying on its activism for new gains and rights, calling for the release of the detained trade unionists and the end of legal proceedings against them.
The UGTT Secretary General warned against a return to dictatorship, denouncing the expulsion and banning of international trade unionists who had recently come to support the union, saying that these actions undermine Tunisia's reputation and show the political crisis that the country is undergoing, notably because of the imbalance between powers and the monopoly of decision-making.
"The lack of dialogue will only exacerbate the economic and social crisis and deepen the divisions," he warned.
Taboubi, however, commended the official discourse of the President of the Republic who had refused any diktat imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a counterpart to the granting of credits.
"The measures imposed by the IMF such as the lifting of compensation, the reduction of the wage bill and the privatisation of public enterprises will worsen the impoverishment of the Tunisian people and increase the inflation rate," he pointed out.
He further wondered about the efficiency of the negotiations with the IMF over the past year and a half, denouncing the lack of transparency.
"The government must inform the Tunisian people about the content of the reform programme presented to the IMF and the progress of negotiations," he said.
In another connection, the secretary general paid tribute to the martyrs, who have sacrificed their lives since the French colonization, for the independence of Tunisia.
He also affirmed the unconditional support of the UGTT to the Palestinian, Libyan and Sudanese peoples, welcoming the resumption of relations with Syria.
The ceremony was held in the presence of UGTT former secretary general Houcine Abassi, members of the national administrative committee and civil society representatives.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
