French President Emmanuel Macron with Tunisian President Kais Saied. The leaders spoke on the phone about the situation in Tunisia. Photo: AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron with Tunisian President Kais Saied. The leaders spoke on the phone about the situation in Tunisia. Photo: AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron with Tunisian President Kais Saied. The leaders spoke on the phone about the situation in Tunisia. Photo: AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron with Tunisian President Kais Saied. The leaders spoke on the phone about the situation in Tunisia. Photo: AFP

Tunisia's Kais Saied tells France's Macron national dialogue expected soon


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Tunisian President Kais Saied has told French President Emmanuel Macron a national dialogue will take place soon.

"Mr Saied indicated that the government would be formed in the coming days and that a national dialogue would be launched in its wake," the French president's office said, after the two leaders spoke on the phone.

Mention of dialogue would be the first indication since he seized powers in July that Mr Saied is ready to consult more widely on finding a way out of the crisis, Reuters reported.

He appointed Najla Bouden Romdhane as prime minister on Wednesday and asked her to form a Cabinet quickly, but she is expected to have fewer powers than previous heads of government.

Mr Saied has suspended much of the constitution and said he would rule by decree. The decree also cast the role of head of government as an assistant to the president, rather than a check on him. All executive power still resides with Mr Saied.

A statement by Mr Saied's office after the phone call with Mr Macron did not mention any plans for a dialogue.

The labour union UGTT and major parties in the suspended parliament have all urged Mr Saied to include them in any talks about Tunisia's constitution and political system.

Although Mr Saied's intervention appeared popular after years of economic stagnation and political paralysis, opposition to it has grown in the two months since with no clear road map to end the problems.

Tunisia faces difficulties in public finances and talks with the IMF for a rescue package stopped when Mr Saied dismissed the previous government.

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How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019

December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'

JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.

“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”

November 26:  ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’

SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue. 

SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."

October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'

MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.

“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December." 

Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

Updated: October 03, 2021, 3:53 AM