Striking magistrates in Tunisia have extended the industrial action by five days, local media reported on Sunday.
The Association of Tunisian Magistrates (AMT) called for the additional five days at the weekend, insisting to continue their on-going strike until an agreement that provides a final solution to their grievances is reached.
The AMT, in a statement, justified the extension with the lack of clarity in the government’s vision for a solution to the serious unprecedented crisis in the justice sector.
The Association called on Tunisia’s Prime Minister, Hichem Mechichi, to find a definite solution to the crisis by signing an agreement which saves the judiciary from collapse and which lays the essential foundations for independent justice and the dignity of magistrates.
The Magistrates affirmed its support for the legitimate demands of judges and also reform of the justice system.
Magistrates in Tunisia have been on strike off and on since last year. On 20 September 2019, the AMT called for an open strike over an incident at the Palace of Justice in Tunis.
On 15 November 2020, the executive office of the Association of Tunisian Magistrates declared a 5-day general strike, from Monday 16 to Friday 20 November 2020 over what it termed “catastrophic conditions” and the state of health of the judges.
The association also organised a protest in front of the Nabeul court of first instance.