✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
From wage increases and retirement reform to penal protection and gender rights, the Algerian state moves beyond slogans to enact lasting structural change for its workforce.
Algiers, Algeria | April 30th, 2025 — As Algeria prepares to commemorate Labour Day on May 1st, the State underscores its commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights through a series of tangible measures, far surpassing symbolic gestures or rhetorical promises. From salary revaluations and contractual integrations to legislative protections and social dialogue, the government has initiated a multifaceted approach to demonstrate that protecting the workforce is a policy priority anchored in action.
Concrete Measures Reflecting a Commitment to Workers
One of the clearest illustrations of this commitment lies in the augmentation of purchasing power for several professional categories. These increases have not only taken the form of salary revaluations and revised indemnity systems but have also included broader institutional reforms.
In the education sector, two pivotal executive decrees were promulgated in January 2025. The first, Executive Decree No. 25-54, redefines the special status of education professionals, while the second, Executive Decree No. 25-55, establishes a new indemnity framework. These legislative instruments allowed for the reclassification of a large portion of educational personnel and resulted in income increases for teachers and staff.
Moreover, 82,410 contractual teachers were permanently integrated, thereby lifting them out of precarious employment—a landmark initiative in the sector’s history. Adding to this momentum, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune decreed, during a recent Council of Ministers meeting, a reduction of the retirement age by three years for teachers across the primary, middle, and secondary levels. A corresponding bill is expected to be submitted to Parliament shortly, fulfilling a presidential promise to the education community.
In public healthcare, salary revaluations were also enacted through new special statutes promulgated in December 2024. Reinforcing these reforms is the Ordinance No. 20-01 of July 30, 2020, which amends the Penal Code to criminalize verbal and physical assaults against health personnel during their duties. This legal amendment, introduced by revising Ordinance No. 66-156 of June 8, 1966, stipulates prison sentences for those who perpetrate such acts—offering legal protection to those on the frontlines of public service.
Similarly, in the religious affairs sector, the Algerian government extended its protective and developmental approach to imams. The Executive Decree No. 24-130 of April 9, 2024 revised the special status of religious affairs officials, introducing new hierarchical grades such as “excellent imam,” and reorganizing the profession’s structure. This was accompanied by Executive Decree No. 24-131, which instituted a new indemnity regime for imams, including performance bonuses, availability allowances, teaching-related compensation, and documentation allowances. These changes have elevated the status of a long-overlooked but socially vital profession, affirming its role in fostering national cohesion and ethical education.
Government-Labor Dialogue: Institutionalized and Evolving
Labor protections in Algeria also extend to a robust and evolving framework of social dialogue, reflecting the State’s responsiveness to its social partners. While the General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) remains the country’s historical and primary labor union, several legally recognized sectoral unions also operate actively under the framework of Law No. 23-02 of April 25, 2023, which governs the exercise of trade union rights.
A prominent example of successful social dialogue is evident in the health sector. Following the implementation of new special statutes at the end of December 2024, certain branches voiced reservations. In response, Minister of Health Abdelhak Saïhi initiated a comprehensive consultation process. He held meetings with various professional unions, including the National Union of Common Corps of Public Health (SNCCSP), the National Union of Specialist Practitioners in Public Health (SNPSSP), the Algerian Union of Biologists in Public Health (SABSP), and the Algerian Union of Paramedics (SAP).
To institutionalize this dialogue, the Minister established a commission tasked with organizing consultations from May 8 to June 5, 2025. This body will collect formal proposals from unions, with a view to presenting a final report to the government by the end of June. This inclusive approach underscores the ministry’s willingness to revise the decrees based on ground-level feedback and professional consensus.
The education sector provides another compelling case of structured dialogue. Prior to the promulgation of the January 2025 executive decrees, Minister of Education Mohamed Seghir Saâdaoui led a proactive consultation initiative involving five major education unions: the Autonomous National Council of Secondary and Technical Education Teachers (CNAPESTE), the National Autonomous Union of Secondary and Technical Education Professors (SNAPEST), the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE), the Union of Common Corps and Professional Workers of National Education (SNCCOPEN), and the Autonomous Union of Education and Training Workers (SATEF).
Although the decrees were positively received overall, some branches expressed concerns about classification schemes. In response, the minister created a listening commission under his direct supervision, which engaged these unions to gather proposals and harmonize viewpoints. This initiative exemplifies constructive social partnership aimed at ensuring equitable and consensus-driven policy outcomes.
Towards a Balanced and Lawful Trade Union Culture
These examples clearly demonstrate that trade unionism is not prohibited in Algeria, contrary to certain external portrayals. On the contrary, workers are actively engaging in defending their rights and consolidating their gains—provided that their actions conform to legal and constructive frameworks. The government has shown it is willing to listen, engage, and revise policies where necessary, as long as dialogue is pursued in good faith and with respect for the laws governing union activity.
As Algeria commemorates Labour Day 2025, the government’s comprehensive and sector-sensitive initiatives reflect a national strategy that affirms the dignity, rights, and economic security of workers. Through coordinated legal, administrative, and participatory reforms, Algeria is moving towards a model of inclusive governance that reinforces professional stability, institutional trust, and social justice. Labour protection, in this context, is no longer a slogan—it is a manifest commitment materialized through deeds, not just declarations.
Link to N.2
Workers’ Day Series: From Salary Increases to Housing Developments and Healthcare Advancements, the Country Continues to Prioritize Social Welfare Under President Tebboune’s Leadership – N.2
