Employers’ National Workshop in Tunisia «Social Dialogue and Assistance to companies »

Tunis – December 27th & 28th 2016 – In the framework of SOLiD project, the Pilot Project for the Promotion of Social Dialogue in the Southern Mediterranean Neighborhood, the Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (BUSINESSMED) and the Tunisian Union of Industry, Commerce and handicrafts (UTICA) co-organized on December 27th & 28th 2016, the National Workshop: «Social Dialogue and Assistance to companies ».
The Workshop was officially opened by Mrs Jihen Boutiba Mrad, the Secretary General of BUSINESSMED, who highlighted the projects’ objectives and expected results. The Working group was an opportunity to present and discuss the results of the diagnosis on the state of play of social dialogue in Tunisia developed by Mr. Abada Mahjoubi, the Tunisian employers’ expert within SOLiD project.
The workshop led by the Central Director of Social Affairs – UTICA Mr Sami Silini dealt with many topical issues namely: labor conflicts’ solving as well as the assistance to struggling companies via the social dialogue.
During the last session of the workshop, Mr Adel Nakti the the UTICA’s Communication Director, stressed on the importance of social media in order to facilitate the access to the information within the regional unions.
Furthermore, the different sessions of the workshop led to several recommendations on the ways to strengthen the role of social dialogue, that guarantee business’ sustainability and development.

It should be remembered that social dialogue includes all the processes of negotiation, information sharing or consultation between government, employers and workers in the framework of economic and social policy issues. It is a fundamental democratic process to foster a climate of social peace, through the resolution of the main economic and social problems and the creation of decent and productive jobs.

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About SOLiD:
SOLiD-South Mediterranean Social Dialogue is a three-year program (2016-2018) with a budget of 3,750 million Euros, 80% financed by the European Union. The project is implemented by a consortium which consists of 10 partners: ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) ATUC (Arab Trade Union Confederation), BUSINESSMED (Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises), ANND (Arab NGO Network for Development), ISCOS (Italian Institute for Cooperation and Development), Progetto SUD, AIP (Portugal Industry Association), SOLIDAR (European Network of NGO’s), CNT Belgium (National Labor Council) and CESE Morocco (Economic, Social and Environmental Committee).