mardi 29 décembre 2009

Tunisia - Visitor for business' allowed activities


  1. Activities authorized as a visitor for business

If the visitor for business is an employee in a company, he is allowed to carry out only activities related to the mission to whom he is assigned in Tunisia; it means that he has to respect tightly what is certified in the letter of attachment signed by his company.

The said activities shall also be fitting his academic degrees and specialties; if he is assigned to a mission different from his specialty he has to present what proves that he conducted the same mission in his company of origin.

To be noted that when the Foreigner presents his application for a temporary visa he shall specify the reasons of his stay in Tunisia therefore he is allowed to carry out activities mentioned under these reasons, according to article 13 of the Decree n° 68-1968 of June 22, 1968 regulating the entry and the stay of foreigners in Tunisia.

In the event that the foreigner intents to conduct a business or carry out a commerce he shall, when applying for his visa, obtain an authorization from the competent authorities, according to the provisions of the same said decree.

  1. Penalties for non compliance

Any employer having recruited a foreign worker shall register him within 48 hours on a special register in line with the model set by Order of the Minister of Employment. The said register shall be presented to Labour inspection agents at every request.

Any failure to present the said register or any other required document is punishable by a fine of 60 to 300 dinars. In case of recidivism, the penalty is doubled.

According to the provisions of Article 265 of the Labour Code, infringements of the provisions of the Labor Code related to the employment of a foreign worker contrary to legal requirements shall be punished by a fine of 12 to 30 dinars per day and per worker, as from the time the infringement began until the date when it was noticed.


Minutes prepared by Labour inspection agents shall specify the circumstances of the infringement and the date of its beginning notably based on documents provided by labor legislation and statements made by the company or the workers to the social security fund.

Foreign workers who violate the aforementioned provisions may be subject to an expulsion measure of the Tunisian territory by decision of the Director of the National Security Department. The decision also sets the deadline granted to the concerned workers to leave the country.

Foreign workers unduly employed should be suspended as from the observation of the infringement by the Labour inspection agents.

In case the employer does suspend the unduly employed workers, he incurs the double of the penalties provided in the article 265 of the Labor Code. The workers who continue to work despite the requisition notified by the labour inspection agents shall be punished by an imprisonment of 1 to 15 days and a fine of 120 to 300 dinars or one of the those two penalties.

jeudi 5 novembre 2009

Data Protection law in Tunisia in 5 questions


  1. In Tunisia, do companies processing personal data need to notify the data protection authority of their data processing activities by filing a standard form with the authority?

Yes. Indeed, according to the provisions of Article 7 of law N°2004-63 dated July 27th, 2004 related to the Data protection, any processing of personal data is subject to the prior authorization of the national instance of protection of personal data.

The statement for the authorization is an application form which shall be filled by the person in charge of the personal data processing or its legal representative.

According to the provisions of Article 16 of the aforementioned law, the authorization is not required for the personal data processing concerning the professional situation of the employees, when the aforementioned treatment was made by the employer and is necessary for the functioning of the Company and for its organization.

  1. If companies do need to notify, do they need to identify by name and address the recipients of personal data disclosures or transfers? Or, is a general description of data recipients okay, for example, "companies in the same corporate group"?

The companies need to identify by name and address the recipients of personal data disclosures or transfers in so far article 8 of the Decree N°2007-3004 dated November 27th, 2007 fixing the conditions and procedures of declaration and authorization of personal data treatment states that " the declaration form prior to the personal data treatment shall comprise the following data :

-full name (i.e. first name, father name and family name) and address of the person in charge of the treatment, sub-contractor and their agents for the natural person (i.e. first name, father name and family name) and if it is a legal person, the company name, the head office, the legal representative identity and the trade registry number, in case of need,

-the concerned persons by the personal data identities and addresses (i.e. first name, father name and family name),

-treatment objectives and norms,

-the personal data treatment categories, place and date,

-the personal data which treatment is envisaged and as well as their origin,

-the persons or authorities who may deal with the data in discharge of their duties,

-the beneficiaries of the personal data treatment,

-place of conservation of personal data subject of the treatment and duration,

-the taken measures to ensure the confidentiality of personal data and safety,

-the description of data bases to which the person in charge is connected,

-the commitment to treat the personal data in conformity with the provided legal provisions,

-the declaration that the conditions of Tunisian nationality, residence in Tunisia and absence of criminal background are met by the person in charge of the personal data treatment, sub-contractor and their agents."

  1. What is the deadline for updating notifications?

The authorization is granted one (01) month after submitting a complete file if the processing of personal complies with the legislation in force.

The law does not provide renewal procedures.

The authorization is withdrawn if the person in charge of the personal data treatment or sub-contractor breach the legal obligations which he is submitted to. In this case, the instance shall decide, subsequent to an audition, the authorization withdrawal and the treatment prohibition.

Besides, it should be noted that according to the article 21 of the law N°2004-63, the person in charge of the personal data treatment or sub-contractor shall correct, complete, modify or update the files which they have, and erase the personal data of these files if they were aware of the inaccuracy or inadequacy of these data. In this case, the person in charge of the personal data treatment has to inform in writing the concerned person and the legal beneficiary about any data modification within two (02) months.

  1. Are there any special requirements for disclosures of personal data between corporate affiliates where both the disclosing and the receiving entity are based in Tunisia? My guess is that disclosures within Tunisia must be proportionate, not involve inaccurate data and respect the original purpose of collection. Note that this question is not about cross border transfers of personal data, only disclosures of personal data that occur from one company to an affiliate in Tunisia.

As a general rule and according to articles 2 and 3 of the law N°2004-63, the law regulates the manual and automated processing of personal data performed by individuals or legal entities, whatever is the legal and licit use, whatever the receiver of the data is a Tunisian subsidiary or a parent company incorporated abroad.

The law applies to any use of personal data that exceeds the personal or family use and which is transmitted to third parties.

  1. Are there any special requirements for a Tunisian company that is being taken over by a new parent company to inform the data protection authority of the transaction and the fact that it will obtain a new parent? Does the Tunisian data protection law or authority impose any special requirements for companies undergoing a merger or acquisition?

The legislation in force does not specify the case of merger or acquisition.

However, in case of retirement or cessation of activity, the person in charge of the treatment (or legal representative of the company) shall inform the national instance of protection of personal data three (03) months before the cessation date.

In case of death of the person in charge of the treatment or winding up of the company, the heirs or the liquidator (as appropriate) shall notify he national instance of protection of personal data within three (03) months as from the event.

It is relevant to note that all those involved in the personal data processing have to preserve confidentiality of the treated personal data, except in the statutory cases, after the end of the treatment or the loss of their quality,

Finally, it should be noted that the person in charge of the personal data treatment, the legal representative of the company, his agents, the sub-contractor and his agents shall be Tunisian citizens, residents in Tunisia and without criminal record.

vendredi 23 octobre 2009

Work permit process in Tunisia

  1. Work permit' lead Time

10 days at least.

  1. Process

The Company or its legal counsel shall submit the file with all the documents at the Ministry of Employment.

  1. Documentary requirements

Please find herein after the check-list of the documentary requirements.

Documents related to the employee

- 4 originals of the foreigner work contract application to be completed by the parties (# Attachment N°1);

- 4 photography;

- copy of the employees' passport;

- Professional references (CV, copies Certified against original diplomas and Work certificates in Arabic or French);

- copy of the residency permit for employees who have previously been resident in Tunisia;

- two one (01) Tunisian dinar tax stamps.

Documents related to the Company

- copy of the attestation of investment declaration or of the merchant’s card;

- The extract from the Trade Registry;

- copy of the declaration that a company exists and of the tax identification card;

- copy of the notice for publication in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic (JORT) concerning the Company incorporation;

- copy of the company’s articles of association;

- copy of the nominative document of employees issued by the national social security authority (CNSS), with copy of the payment receipt;

- attestation from the geographically relevant regional office of the Ministry of Employment (MEIPJ) justifying the absence of similar skills among Tunisian job seekers for the post in question

- certificate of secondment only if the employer is awarded a public market in Tunisia;

  1. Possibility to convert a business visa to work permit

No legal requirement prevents the conversion of business visa (# Application form – Attached N°2) to work permit. However, the work permit and the transfer of business visa to a residence card shall be made during the visa validity; otherwise, the employee shall renew his business visa or leave the Tunisian territory for at least 24 hours and then return.

It shall be noted that many nationalities do not require an entry visa to the Tunisian territory[1]. For these cases, the stay in Tunisia shall not exceed three (03) months without interruption.

The work permit can be processed in parallel to the consultant being in Tunisia on a business visa.

5. Other specific details

It shall be noted that :

- The term of the foreign employee’s employment contract should not exceed one (1) year renewable only once, except specific legislative provisions or conventions concluded between Tunisia and foreign countries. However, the employment contract can be renewed for more than once when it concerns the employment of foreigners in their companies exerting in Tunisia in the framework of the realization of development projects approved by the competent authorities, as stated by article 258-2 of the Labor Code.

- Tunisian law provides that certain foreign employees are exempted from the visa of employment contract (i.e. work permit). The foreigners exempted from the work permit are listed as following:

· Foreigners having the quality of employer;

· Foreigners having the quality of Manager or Joint Manager;

· Foreign people working on behalf of an international organization or associations ;

· Moroccan and Algerian nationals (employers and salaries employees);

· Employees exerting under one of the regimes covering the following industry branches:

- wholly exporting companies aimed under article 18 of the law n° 93-120 of December 27, 1993 bearing promulgation of Incentives to the Investments Code : These companies are authorized to recruit agents of direction and framing of foreign nationality within the limit of four (04) people for each company;

- Companies installed in the Economic activities Parks (Economic Franchise ex-Zones) governed by the law n° 94-14 of January 31, 1994 : These companies are authorized, under the terms of article 24 of the aforesaid law, to recruit four (4) direction and framing staff of foreign nationality for each company. Beyond this limit, the companies must conform to the program of recruitment and tunisification approved beforehand by the Employment and Youth Professional Insertion Ministry;

- Banks and financial organisms aimed by the law n°85-108 of December 6, 1985 bearing encouragement of financial and banking organizations working primarily with the non-residents : These financial organisms and banking can appoint freely foreign supervisory staff. Notification of these recruitments must be made at the Central Bank of Tunisia “B.C.T.”.

- Oil companies exerting hydrocarbons prospection and research activities. These companies are authorized to freely recruit a supervisory staff of foreign nationality, according to articles 124 and 125 of Hydrocarbons Code;

- Companies, carrying on prospection, research and mining activities: These companies are authorized to recruit supervisory staff of foreign nationality, and this, after information of the Employment Ministry;

- Health establishments which the totality of their services are provided for the benefit of non resident.

In all the above mentioned cases, notification of recruitments carried out will have to be made to the Employment Ministry and Youth Professional Insertion which delivers, at request, a Certificate of non submission to the visa of the contract of employment.

Documents to be provided to obtain the certificate of non submission to the visa of foreigner labor contract are as follow:

· Declaration of recruitment of foreign executive officers (Specific pplication form);

· References of the foreign employees (diplomas, certificates of work, etc)

· Legal documents related to the constitution of the company ( Copy of the declaration submission’s certificate (API approval or APIA or CEPEX…), copy of the company’s tax identification card, copies of the bylaws and copies of the trade register);

· Copy of the passport’s first three pages;

· Last quarterly declaration of the CNSS;

· Two tax stamps of one (01) tunisian dianr each one.

· The recruitment declaration and the professional references are not necessary for the Manager, the Joint Manager and the Board of Directors Chairman.


[1] Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, Algeria (unlimited stay), Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahrain, Barbados, Bermuda, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria (two months max.), Chile, Côte d'Ivoire,Croatia, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia Guinea, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland,Kiribati, Korea (Rep), Libya, Liechtenstein, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic),Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius,Monaco,Morocco (unlimited stay),Niger, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Romania, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia & Montenegro, Seychelles, Solomon Island, Switzerland, Turkey and Vatican Cit.

vendredi 28 août 2009

La profession d'agent commercial

1.1 En Tunisie, l'agent commercial est soumis par l'arrêté du ministre du commerce en date du 26/07/2001 aux dispositions d'un Cahier des Charges.

Conformément aux dispositions de l'article 4 du cahier des charges, ainsi que les dispositions générales du décret-loi N°61-14 en date du 30 août 1961 relatif à l'exercice de certaines activités commerciales[1], l'agent commercial, qu'il soit personne physique ou entité légale, doit être de nationalité tunisienne.

En vue d'être réputée de nationalité tunisienne, une société doit :

- être constituée conformément à la législation tunisienne,

- avoir son siège en Tunisie,

- être détenue à concurrence de 50% au moins par des personnes physiques ou morales tunisiennes, et

- avoir un conseil d'administration ou la gérance constitué majoritairement par des personnes physiques de nationalité tunisienne.

1.2 Il est nécessaire de constituer une société de droit tunisien.

En effet, conformément aux dispositions de l'article 8 dudit décret-loi 61-14, sauf rares dérogations accordées par le Ministre des Finances pour des cas ayant un impact éminent sur l'économie nationale, il est interdit aux personnes physiques ou morales ne possédant pas la nationalité tunisienne d'exercer l'activité d'agent commercial ou représentant de commerce.

Les parties ne peuvent déroger à cette interdiction d'ordre public, sous peine de sanctions pénales prévues par l'article 15 dudit décret-loi qui prévoit que "toute personne qui aura sciemment contribuer à détourner les dispositions du présent décret-loi en se prêtant fictivement à certaines opérations sera condamné à une peine d'emprisonnement de 3 mois à 5 ans.

Dans le cas de personnes morales, cette peine est encourue par ceux qui, au sein de l'entreprise, ont la qualité de commerçant."


jeudi 20 août 2009

La clause pénale en droit tunisien

La clause pénale n'étant pas régie par le droit civil tunisien, elle a été acceptée par la Jurisprudence. En effet, les chambres réunies de la Cour de cassation ont motivé la validité de la clause pénale dans l'arrêt en date du 29/04/1975 sur la base du principe de la liberté contractuelle consacré par l'article 242 du COC.

Toutefois et dans le cadre de la limitation des clauses léonines et abusives, les chambres réunies de la Cour de cassation ont statué lors de l'arrêt N ° 42624 en date du 28 avril 1994[1] que «bien que la clause pénale est soumise au principe de liberté contractuelle conformément aux dispositions de l'article 242 du COC, mais elle n'empêche pas le juge de fond d'exercer son pouvoir de contrôle de ladite clause pénale par le maintien ou la suppression, l'augmentation ou la diminution de son montant, en fonction des circonstances de chaque cas, conformément aux dispositions de l'article 278 du COC et les principes d'équité et de justice sociale, sous réserve de la motivation de la décision.

Cet arrêt accorde au juge la possibilité de modérer le montant de l'indemnité contractuelle lorsque son montant lui apparaît manifestement excessif.

Par analogie, et une vue de prévoir un taux d'intérêt légal équitable, il est à noter que le taux d'intérêt est réglementé dans le cadre du contrat de prêt par l'article 1100 du COC qui stipule "Lorsque les parties n'ont pas déterminé le taux des intérêts, le taux de l'intérêt légal qui s'applique est le suivant :

- en matière civile, il est calculé à raison de 7 % l'an ;

- en matière commerciale, il est égal aux taux maximum des découverts bancaires, fixé par la Banque Centrale, majoré d'un demi point."

Le taux d'intérêt légal en matière commerciale est fixé par la banque centrale du 01/08/2009 au 31/08/2009 à 11,18%.

L'article 1103 limite la liberté contractuelle dans ce cadre en sanctionnant les taux d'intérêts exorbitants. "Celui qui, abusant des besoins, […] d'une autre personne, se fait promettre, pour consentir un prêt ou le renouveler à l'échéance, des intérêts ou autres avantages qui excèdent notablement le taux normal de l'intérêt, et la valeur du service rendu, selon les lieux et les circonstances de l'affaire, sera l'objet de poursuites pénales. Les clauses et conventions passées en contravention du présent article pourront être annulées, à la requête de la partie et même d'office, le taux stipulé pourra être réduit, et le débiteur pourra répéter, comme indû, ce qu'il lui aurait payé au¬dessus du taux qui sera fixé par le tribunal. S'il y a plusieurs créanciers, ils seront tenus solidairement".


[1] Revue Tunisienne de Droit (RTD), 1996, p. 245 - 248.