TUNIS, Tunisia

Tunisia's powerful UGTT labor union has declared a general strike on June 16 in protest of the government’s refusal to reform public companies.

In a statement on Tuesday, the union said the strike was called “over government’s unwillingness to reform public companies.”

It said the general strike will cover 159 public institutions in the country.

Tunisia faces its worst financial crisis and is seeking a $4 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The UGTT, which has more than a million members, calls for wage increases for state workers as inflation reached a record level of 7.5% in April, from 7.2% in March and 7% in February.

Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis since July 25, 2021, when President Kais Saied dismissed the government, suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority, in a move decried by opponents as a “coup.” He later dissolved the parliament in March after lawmakers held a session to revoke his measures.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar