TUNIS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed on Thursday began negotiations with Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) on wage increase in the public sector.
Chahed insisted that the government spared no effort to respond positively to social demands, including taking certain measures for the disadvantaged groups.
He mentioned the revision of the tax system, increase of social assistance for needy families, and free transportation for schoolchildren.
Chahed said the meeting was "a positive step to continue and strengthen the social dialogue."
According to UGTT, the wage increase for the year 2018 and 2019 will be around 6 percent. The negotiations will take into account certain parameters, such as purchasing power, rising prices and the inflation rate.
In 2016, the guaranteed minimum wage for a Tunisian worker, who worked 48 hours a week, was increased to 357.1 dinars a month (136.2 U.S. dollars).
UGTT Secretary-general Noureddine Tabboubi proposed that the guaranteed minimum wage should be increased to 866 dinars.
