Reform of the Social Security System: A Pressing Issue in Tunisia
Introduction
The Health, Women, Family, Social Affairs, and People with Disabilities Committee held a hearing session on Friday, April 10, 2026, to discuss the reform of the social security system. The meeting highlighted the alarming state of the social security funds, which face an annual deficit of between 2 and 3 billion dinars.
Current State of Social Security
The representatives of the ministry presented a worrying picture:
- The number of affiliates has reached 2.3 million, while the number of retirees stands at 1.2 million.
- The social coverage rate does not exceed 60% of the active population.
- The informal economy represents between 30% and 40% of the total national economy.
Factors Contributing to the Crisis
Several factors contribute to this situation, including:
- Demographic changes
- Expansion of the informal sector
- Social fraud
- Increase in healthcare costs, particularly for imported medicines
- Depreciation of the Tunisian dinar
- Lack of attention to preventive healthcare, which has increased treatment costs
Proposed Reforms
To address these challenges, the ministry has proposed a reform based on three strategic objectives:
- Expanding social coverage
- Improving the quality of services
- Ensuring the financial sustainability of the funds
Some of the options being considered include:
- Merging regimes into a single structure
- Maintaining the current architecture with targeted reforms
- Creating bridges between different regimes based on the type of benefits
- Integrating the informal sector through adapted contribution formulas
Commitment to the Social Security Model
The representatives of the ministry emphasized that the solidarity-based distribution system, which is the foundation of the Tunisian social model, is a national intergenerational achievement that cannot be abandoned.
Reaction from Deputies
The deputies reacted by demanding precise numerical data and total transparency on the financial situation of the funds. They recalled that the President of the Republic has emphasized that the reform of social security cannot be conjunctural or partial, but must be based on a new and comprehensive vision. Some proposed the creation of a dedicated coordination body within the ministry to pilot the reform, in association with experts, national organizations, and strategic study centers.
