A possible way out of the bread crisis is announced after the decision of the Ministry of Commerce, Saturday August 19, to resupply flour and semolina to so-called “modern” bakeries which have been off work for a fortnight.
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With our correspondent in Tunis, Lilia Blaise
These “modern” bakeries, which usually produce subsidized baguettes and special breads, had stopped production after a strike action following President Kaïs Saïed’s decision to encourage bakeries to produce only subsidized baguettes. This decision, taken to fight against speculation and the diversion of flour, had led to a showdown between the government and these bakeries.
Agreement
The Ministry of Commerce therefore decided to supply flour and semolina to these “modern” bakeries, which had not been supplied for two weeks because of disagreements with the government and tighter controls on the distribution of flour. Subsidized flour quotas have been redirected to so-called “traditional” bakeries, which only produce subsidized bread.
On Saturday August 1, the Ministry of Commerce reached an agreement with the bakeries, but with the condition that they change their name in order to inform the consumer of their difference with traditional bakeries. ” Unclassified bread-making businesses specialize in making high-quality bread, which weighs no more than 150 grams and is different in shape from traditional baguette and compensated bread “. This is what these bakeries will now have to indicate.
Restructuring
The authorities have also announced a vast census campaign of bread businesses in order to restructure the manufacturing system of the famous subsidized baguette. The bread crisis of recent weeks will at least have put the issue in Tunisia back on the table, a very sensitive subject but which had not been discussed so openly on the political level for years.
La Conect, a union which represents modern bakeries on strike, announced in the wake of the press release from the Ministry of Commerce the cancellation of the movements of sit in scheduled for Monday, August 21.
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