(TAP) - "The proliferation of precarious work in Tunisia has been followed by the increase in the rate of the working population in the informal sector, which hit 54%," said Deputy Secretary General of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Hfayedh Hfayedh.

In his address to the 48th session of the Arab Labour Conference, held in Cairo, Egypt, September 18-25, he warned against the proliferation of job insecurity, pointing to the emergence of new innovative modes such as subcontracting and the combination of wage employment and self-employment, which creates a problem of legal subordination.

Hfayedh called on Arab trade union organisations to protect the right to social negotiations in order to sustain social dialogue based on the guarantee of social justice and decent work while promoting competitiveness.

"Challenges can only be taken up in a consensual dialogue based on joint evaluation," he said, underlining that the UGTT has chosen this path in its relationship with its partners, which has helped avoid bickering and conflicts.

Besides, Hfayedh Hfayedh reaffirmed the UGTT's rejection of any form of normalisation with the Zionist entity.