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Article Tunisia: Legislation Proposed to Curb “Brain Drain”

On November 30. 2024, members of the Tunisian Parliament announced their intention to propose legislation requiring medical doctors and engineers trained in Tunisian universities to pay financial compensation to the Tunisian government if they decide to work outside Tunisia within five years from their graduation. The new law aims to prevent brain drain from the country.

Provisions of the Proposed Legislation

It is reported that the proposed draft law will require engineers and medical doctors who emigrate within five years of their graduation to pay 50% of the cost of their education and training at Tunisian universities, with the payment to be made in annual installments. However, those who return to work in Tunisia within five years would be exempt from this payment, provided they remain in the country for at least three consecutive years.

The proposed legislation mandates that the funds collected be used to improve the quality and infrastructure of Tunisian universities.

Scope of the Problem

According to the Ain newspaper, statistics provided by the Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies, a government body affiliated with the Tunisian presidency, show that around 3,000 Tunisian engineers emigrate annually. In the past three years alone, about 4000 medical professionals have also emigrated.

Reactions to the Proposal  

Fatima al Masadi, one of the members sponsoring the proposed law, said it seeks to address the growing phenomenon of skilled professionals migrating after receiving their education in Tunisian universities, which has depleted qualified human resources in the country and has caused the Tunisian state significant financial losses.

But the proposed law has also sparked widespread controversy and criticism. Associations representing engineers and doctors have argued the proposed law would be unconstitutional and would violate their members’ personal freedoms, and that the draft law would not achieve its stated goals.

George Sadek, Law Library of Congress
December 30, 2024

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Chicago citation style:

Sadek, George. Tunisia: Legislation Proposed to Curb “Brain Drain”. 2024. Web Page. https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2024-12-30/tunisia-legislation-proposed-to-curb-brain-drain/.

APA citation style:

Sadek, G. (2024) Tunisia: Legislation Proposed to Curb “Brain Drain”. [Web Page] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2024-12-30/tunisia-legislation-proposed-to-curb-brain-drain/.

MLA citation style:

Sadek, George. Tunisia: Legislation Proposed to Curb “Brain Drain”. 2024. Web Page. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2024-12-30/tunisia-legislation-proposed-to-curb-brain-drain/>.