TUNIS: The subsidized flour is no more and bakers in Tunisa are on strike as the government has taken back the facility provided in the past, a move that could result in closure of hundreds of bakeries.
“We are stopped from making baguettes,” said president of Bakers Mohamed Jamali adding, “Ministry banned 1500 private owned bakeries that were making European style bread and pastries.”
Tunis President Kais Saied in his video address announced there will one type of bread for Tunisia. The official video announcement late July followed by ministry’s implementation has resulted in over 18,000 people associated with trade without work for a week since August 1.
The demonstrators hold placards with slogans reading bread, national dignity, joblessness and above all freedom.
The aftermath to follow with the Presidential announcement will be joblessness in the trade and that could be in thousands and many will be in prison owing to their contractual agreements that were not fulfilled.
The rent losses and loan payments in the trade, particularly the modern bakeries are all affected with President’s message.
President Kais Saied explained the phenomenon on subsidised and non-subsidised bread which he believes is likely to create social unrest in Tunisia that is faced with plethora of issues in economy, particularly the purchasing power of Tunisians.
Tunisia’s modern bakeries sell baguettes and pastries and they sell it at a higher price which was criticised by the President.
President Saied made it clear the bread will be provided to all Tunisian as the nation is faced with flour shortage.
The price for subsidised baguette has remained the same since 1984 that is 190 Tunisian millimes ($.07 Cents) resulting in long queues where people stand in line for long hours.
The financial experts in Tunisia have come out criticising the Saied government for making no plans in averting the ‘bread crisis’ as the depleting flour reserves have created unrest among masses.
The unified price will not avert the crisis as the state doesn’t admit its fault and simply has little flour reserves.
Tunisia is faced with economic crisis and President Kais Saied is criticised for his policies in handling the current ‘bread crisis’.
