Tunisia is Africa’s northernmost country and has formed a bridge between the Mediterranean and Africa’s Maghreb region for centuries. The country follows a French-style legal framework, and while Arabic is the official language, French dominates business communications, including payslips and HR systems. English is increasingly common, but language remains a practical consideration for international teams. Tunisia’s young, highly skilled workforce also gives the country a competitive edge. A significant percentage of the population is under 30, and many young professionals are fluent in multiple languages and trained in engineering, IT, and business, making Tunisia a strategic location for global operations and shared services centers.  

In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by Sonia Khachlouf, General Manager of ADP in Tunisia, and Maher Gaida, CEO of ABC Audit & Business Consulting. They’ll talk us through the ins and outs of processing payroll in Tunisia, including the rules around social security contributions and how employers make accommodations to allow employees to observe religious practices like Ramadan. We also speak to Ons, a PhD candidate in Tunis who tells us how his employer makes it possible for him to observe Ramadan.

Timestamps

• Intro [00:07] 
• The Tunisian economy [03:44] 
• The talent pool in Tunisia [06:03] 
• Bureaucracy in Tunisia and other challenges [07:57] 
• Tunisia’s unique cultural blend [10:15] 
• Payroll challenges [12:31] 
• Social security contributions [17:36] 
• Ons’ story [24:13] 
• Tunisian employers and Ramadan [26:52] 
• What’s special about payroll in Tunisia? [29:03] 

Credits

• Executive Producers for ADP: Nicola Smith and Kate Allen
• Executive Producer for Storythings: Matt Locke
• Recorded, edited, mixed and mastered by: Chris Mitchell
• Scripted and hosted by: Luisa Rollenhagen
• Guest interview recorded by: Nissim Gasteli
• Project Manager: Aimee Perrinjaquet

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