Tunisia - Women Business Leaders Face Employment Challenges
13 August 2009
Read by 1472 persons
Title : Tunisia - Women Business Leaders Face Employment Challenges
Text : The State is focusing on university graduates. It allocates 7.5% of GDP to education and training. But this policy generates even more unemployed university graduates. Reforms initiated by the Ministry of Employment and Youth Integration aim mainly to integrate long-term unemployed individuals. 16,000 job seekers will benefit from this project. These young people will receive training and support. They will receive all the necessary help, from CV writing to professional integration. For those wishing to create their own project, support structures are in place for guidance, supervision, and assistance.
To better understand these reforms and mechanisms, a conference was held on the theme "New Employment Mechanisms for Business Leaders and Young Entrepreneurs." It was organized by the National Chamber of Women Business Leaders (CNFCE) - a few days before the celebration of National Women's Day and the anniversary of the publication of the Personal Status Code - jointly with the Association of Tunisian Graduates from German Universities, in the presence of Slim Tlatli, Minister of Employment and Youth Integration.
Mr. Tlatli highlighted the important role of women in economic development and equal opportunities in employment, education, and training between men and women. He indicated that the rate of active women rose from 22.8% in 1999 to 25.4% in 2008. This rate is expected to reach 29% in 2011 and 33% in 2016. The number of working women has increased from 22% in 1984 to almost 26% today.
The Minister stated that the financial crisis presented Tunisia with new challenges. However, it led to a repositioning of the country. Tunisia is currently presented as a strategic choice for foreign investors. The country also faces several major challenges. First, it must deal with 90,000 additional annual job applications. 90% of additional applications are covered, of which only 55% come from university graduates. It should be recalled that nearly 36,000 jobs were created for higher education graduates in 2008.
To meet these challenges, the State is focusing on investment and growth, particularly in high-value-added sectors such as information and communication technologies, healthcare, tourism, transport, logistics services, and offshoring services.
To this end, the active employment policy has been restructured into 6 programs. These take into account the specificities of the categories concerned and the possibilities of integration. Procedures have also been simplified.
School curricula must be aligned with the needs of the national economy. Programs will also be restructured and improved.
Mr. Tlatli called on women business leaders to participate in the integration program for long-term unemployed young people.
Moncef Barcous, Vice President of UTICA, stressed the importance of promoting investment and economic development. Because, he stated, they are the key to job creation. He also highlighted the crucial role of a culture of initiative and entrepreneurship.
Faouzia Slama, President of the CNFCE, stated that employment is a major challenge that Tunisia must overcome. This is why the State has undertaken several important reforms in the field of employment, redirecting efforts towards categories that are having difficulty finding employment.
Hamadi Boulaarès, CEO of the National Agency for Employment and Self-Employment (ANETI), indicated that the old employment mechanisms have proven their limitations. Indeed, there are many incomprehensible programs. According to him, these programs do not succeed in integrating young people. They also do not differentiate between the various specializations and therefore do not target those who are truly in difficulty and looking for a job.
The State will cover the cost of adaptation and retraining of beneficiaries of employment integration programs within companies. Thus, new recruits will be able to benefit from 120 to 400 hours of training, depending on the specific needs expressed by employers. The allowances granted increase from 107 to 150 dinars. Given the specificities of the economic fabric of the regions, increased responsibilities will be granted to them. They will concern the design and implementation of employment programs within the framework of annual program contracts with regional councils.
If the company hires the young person at the end of their integration contract, it will receive a bonus of 1,000 dinars in addition to the state's coverage of its social security contributions, over seven years in installments.
Human capital would be both Tunisia's main asset and its major handicap. Lacking natural resources, the country relies mainly on human resources as the key to development. However, with 90,000 additional annual applications, 55% of which come from higher education, employment remains a major challenge that Tunisia must overcome to continue its rise and growth.
Published August 12, 2009
Posted online August 13, 2009
BusinessNews
Text : The State is focusing on university graduates. It allocates 7.5% of GDP to education and training. But this policy generates even more unemployed university graduates. Reforms initiated by the Ministry of Employment and Youth Integration aim mainly to integrate long-term unemployed individuals. 16,000 job seekers will benefit from this project. These young people will receive training and support. They will receive all the necessary help, from CV writing to professional integration. For those wishing to create their own project, support structures are in place for guidance, supervision, and assistance.
To better understand these reforms and mechanisms, a conference was held on the theme "New Employment Mechanisms for Business Leaders and Young Entrepreneurs." It was organized by the National Chamber of Women Business Leaders (CNFCE) - a few days before the celebration of National Women's Day and the anniversary of the publication of the Personal Status Code - jointly with the Association of Tunisian Graduates from German Universities, in the presence of Slim Tlatli, Minister of Employment and Youth Integration.
Mr. Tlatli highlighted the important role of women in economic development and equal opportunities in employment, education, and training between men and women. He indicated that the rate of active women rose from 22.8% in 1999 to 25.4% in 2008. This rate is expected to reach 29% in 2011 and 33% in 2016. The number of working women has increased from 22% in 1984 to almost 26% today.
The Minister stated that the financial crisis presented Tunisia with new challenges. However, it led to a repositioning of the country. Tunisia is currently presented as a strategic choice for foreign investors. The country also faces several major challenges. First, it must deal with 90,000 additional annual job applications. 90% of additional applications are covered, of which only 55% come from university graduates. It should be recalled that nearly 36,000 jobs were created for higher education graduates in 2008.
To meet these challenges, the State is focusing on investment and growth, particularly in high-value-added sectors such as information and communication technologies, healthcare, tourism, transport, logistics services, and offshoring services.
To this end, the active employment policy has been restructured into 6 programs. These take into account the specificities of the categories concerned and the possibilities of integration. Procedures have also been simplified.
School curricula must be aligned with the needs of the national economy. Programs will also be restructured and improved.
Mr. Tlatli called on women business leaders to participate in the integration program for long-term unemployed young people.
Moncef Barcous, Vice President of UTICA, stressed the importance of promoting investment and economic development. Because, he stated, they are the key to job creation. He also highlighted the crucial role of a culture of initiative and entrepreneurship.
Faouzia Slama, President of the CNFCE, stated that employment is a major challenge that Tunisia must overcome. This is why the State has undertaken several important reforms in the field of employment, redirecting efforts towards categories that are having difficulty finding employment.
Hamadi Boulaarès, CEO of the National Agency for Employment and Self-Employment (ANETI), indicated that the old employment mechanisms have proven their limitations. Indeed, there are many incomprehensible programs. According to him, these programs do not succeed in integrating young people. They also do not differentiate between the various specializations and therefore do not target those who are truly in difficulty and looking for a job.
The State will cover the cost of adaptation and retraining of beneficiaries of employment integration programs within companies. Thus, new recruits will be able to benefit from 120 to 400 hours of training, depending on the specific needs expressed by employers. The allowances granted increase from 107 to 150 dinars. Given the specificities of the economic fabric of the regions, increased responsibilities will be granted to them. They will concern the design and implementation of employment programs within the framework of annual program contracts with regional councils.
If the company hires the young person at the end of their integration contract, it will receive a bonus of 1,000 dinars in addition to the state's coverage of its social security contributions, over seven years in installments.
Human capital would be both Tunisia's main asset and its major handicap. Lacking natural resources, the country relies mainly on human resources as the key to development. However, with 90,000 additional annual applications, 55% of which come from higher education, employment remains a major challenge that Tunisia must overcome to continue its rise and growth.
Published August 12, 2009
Posted online August 13, 2009
BusinessNews
