Right to ownership and employment, main concerns of Algerians in Tunisia

The right to ownership and employment are the main concerns raised by Algerian nationals established in Tunisia during a meeting with Secretary of State for the national community abroad, Halim Benattalah. During this meeting, held at the Consulate General of Algeria in Tunis, Benatallah said that his visit aims at knowing the living conditions and economic and social conditions of the Algerian community, highlighting the availability of relevant authorities to help the community to organize and unite so to make its voice heard. During the discussion, members of the national community have raised the problem of non-application of the Establishment Agreement regarding access to property and employment.
"We cannot sell or buy any property," said an Algerian lawyer who referred to two circulars that make non effective the actual application of the Convention for the benefit of Algerians," wondering if the current negotiations would allow Algerians to better enjoy their rights.
She also noted that a large number of Algerian nationals are unable to obtain a residence card even for native Algerians.
The closure of the job market in all sectors for Algerian nationals was, moreover, underlined with insistence. In addition, many citizens are unable to obtain job, including graduates of the University of Tunisia "because of their nationality," it was repeated.
Most often, they added, mixed marriage became the only recourse for easy settlement, to obtain employment or professional practice.
University graduates asked the state to "help to return to Algeria because of the lack of prospects in the field of employment," while others wanted "a more proactive stance of the State for the establishment of a special device that would facilitate their return and reintegration in Algeria."
In this regard, Benattalah said that discussions on the new Convention on Establishment "considers the crucial issue of employment and right to ownership, which is likely to take time," he said.
Benattalah also said that the Algerian government applied "in good faith the provisions of the convention on establishment," noting that "Tunisians in Algeria normally obtain the renewal of their residence permit until durations of 10 years."
Secretary of State noted, in this context, that 400 Tunisian companies were working in Algeria in the fields of services and trade "freely" and "without any impediment."