Why Tunisia wants to let women in private jobs retire at 50
A new bill in Tunisia is proposing that women working in the private sector be allowed to retire at the age of 50, after completing 20 years of service.
The move is aimed at easing the pressure on female workers and improving family wellbeing.
Currently, early retirement in Tunisia is tied to having at least three children and 25 years of work experience.
However, the new proposal removes that condition and focuses instead on how demanding work can be for women, especially in sectors like manufacturing, textiles, and services.
The proposal comes as Tunisia, like many countries, faces growing challenges with its pension system. With an ageing population and fewer workers supporting more retirees, the state pension funds are already under financial strain.
In 2024 alone, the shortfall in Tunisia’s social security funds reached over five billion dinars.
Meanwhile, the idea of giving older women the option to retire earlier has sparked debate in the country.
While the bill is yet to be fully debated in parliament, it has already raised important questions about work, gender equality, and how to ensure social protection systems can keep up with changing needs.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
