TUNIS / Adel Al-Thabti / Anadolu

Tunisia's private transport sector on Monday staged a one-day strike demanding the adjustment of transport fares and legislative reforms related to the sector.

Moez Slama, deputy head of the National Transport Union under the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (employer organization), told Anadolu that "the strike is ongoing all day until 9 p.m. (20:00 GMT)."

Slama explained that the strike comes after the failure to implement a previous agreement with the authorities regarding the adjustment of transport fares.

He added: "There is a written agreement and signed meeting minutes with the authorities on January 22, 2026, stipulating an increase in transport fares, which was to be implemented by the end of March but was withdrawn."

He added that a strike planned for April 27, 2026 was suspended after the authorities contacted the head of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, Samir Majoul, and promised to adjust the fares in June of the same year, but that did not happen.

Slama pointed to increasing difficulties due to rising costs, saying the price of a used car rose from about 31,000 dinars ($10,500) in 2014 to about 65,000 dinars ($22,000) currently, in addition to higher taxes and spare part prices that have "quadrupled."

He added that the transport minister acknowledged, according to him, the sector's right to adjust prices, asking: "If the state approves wage increases for the public and private sectors, then 55,000 vehicles and 150,000 workers in our sector are also entitled to improve their conditions."

Slama stressed that the protesters seek to "make their voice heard by the highest authority in the country" to fulfill previous commitments regarding the sector.

He also mentioned legislative demands to develop private transport, including amending Transport Law No. 33 of 2004, revising Decree No. 581 on granting transport licenses, and improving working conditions in the sector.

No immediate comment was issued by the Tunisian authorities regarding the strike or the demands.

This strike follows similar strikes over the past two weeks in the banking and legal sectors demanding better wages and working conditions.