Thousands of employees in Tunisia’s banking, financial, and insurance sectors observed a remote strike on Monday and Tuesday, November 3–4, 2025, following a call from the General Federation of Banks, Financial Institutions, and Insurance Companies, a branch of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT). Most workplaces remained closed Monday morning.
According to participants, the strike aimed to protest deteriorating social and economic conditions and declining purchasing power. Workers are demanding wage increases, which management representatives say are already included in the government’s draft Finance Bill for 2026.
Many clients expressed frustration over the two-day disruption of services, though most noted that electronic payment systems continued functioning normally.
The Banking and Financial Council (CBF), representing employers, denounced the strike as “unjustified and unacceptable.” Experts estimate potential daily losses of around 350 million dinars, combining lost productivity and reduced economic value generated by the financial sector. The industry has been under pressure for several years.
Data from Fitch Ratings, published on October 28, 2025, show that despite a 13% annual increase in the combined net profits of Tunisia’s ten largest banks during the first quarter of 2025, the sector continues to face significant challenges. These include high inflation, weak economic growth, and elevated interest rates.
Fitch also cited the sector’s nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio, which reached 14.7% by the end of March 2025—its highest level in four years, up from 13.1% at the end of 2021. The agency highlighted modest profitability, with an average return on equity (ROE) of 10.6% from 2022 through the first quarter of 2025, along with a 21% increase in risk costs and an 8% rise in operating expenses during that quarter.
While financial institutions are often criticized on social media for being overly profitable, the data suggest a more complex reality. Tunisia’s banking sector operates in a restrained and uncertain business environment that continues to challenge its stability and profitability.
