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 27^th, 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.

2. 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 27^th, 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."

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

Work permit process in Tunisia

1. Work permit' lead Time

10 days at least.

2. Process

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

3. 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;

4. 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.

PV de contravention pour avoir ... fumé une cigarette dans un café!!!

Excès d'zèle? A7na ma na3rfouch el 3ilm, a7na nzidou fih.

Cà se passe en Tunisie, plus précisément dans un café à Mutuelle Ville hier soir vers 21 h.

Deux policiers débarquent dans un café, oublient leurs Mralboros sur le tableau de bord de la Clio de service, et... Monsieur, P.V. pour contravention.
- Pourquoi donc? Qu'aurai-je fait?
- Vous êtes en infraction, vous fumez dans un lieu public.
- En vertu de quelle loi?
- heuuuuu... loi 96.
- Pourtant le décret n°98-2248 fixant les lieux affectés à l'usage collectif dans lesquels il est interdit de fumer ne mentionne en aucun cas, les cafés, qui en Tunisie, et jusqu'à nouvel ordre, ils restent destinés à la Chicha, Cigarettes and Co.
- Je n'en sais rien, j'applique les instructions!!!!!

Et bien, Monsieur le Policier, si vous lisez ces lignes, Messieurs ses supérieurs, et un peu à ma manière, je tâcherai à envoyer une copie du décret en question au District concerné, voici la liste des lieux où il est LÉGALEMENT interdit de fumer:

- les établissements d'enseignement et de formation publics et privés à l'exception des lieux et espaces destinés aux fumeurs [...],
- les établissements sanitaires publics ou privés à l'exception des lieux et espaces destinés aux fumeurs [...],
- les salles ou locaux destinés à l'attente, au diagnostic ou aux soins dans les cabinets et laboratoires médicaux privés,
- les locaux destinés à l'exercice privé des professions paramédicales,
- les jardins d'enfants, les crèches et les kouttebs,
- les espaces ouverts au public dans les officines de détails,
- les moyens de transport sanitaire,
- les locaux destinés à accueillir des mineurs en vue de servir de cadre à leurs activités collectives de loisirs et de sport,
- les salles de lecture des bibliothèques ouvertes au public,
- les salles de spectacle culturel,
- les salles de sport couvertes,
- les mosquées, les lieux de prières, les zaouias et tous les lieux de culte,
- les salles destinées aux conférences et réunions ainsi que les bureaux communs, les salles d'attente et les couloirs dans les administrations publiques,
- les ascenseurs installés dans les locaux ouverts au public,
- les stations de distribution de carburant,
- les lieux et espaces réservés aux non fumeurs.

Enfin Messieurs, un mini rappel que selon la pyramide des règles juridiques, la loi et le décret du Ministère de la Santé ont force sur toutes les instructions mal interprétées et les excès de zèle des ignares.

http://some-other-shit.blogspot.com/2008/11/3aw-n-amn-la-justice-nest-pas-juste.html

Warehouses Under Tunisian New Customs Code

Pursuant to the Article 166 of the New Customs Code, the regime of customs warehouse allows to the Companies to put the goods and equipment for a fixed period in places subject to the customs approval and control.

The Company shall introduce a request to the Customs services in order to exploit a customs warehouse including all necessary indications related to the Company and the equipment and notably those establishing a real economic need for storage and warehousing. 

The warehousing is subject to an approval (authorization) which determines the operating conditions of the warehouse.

The goods admitted in customs warehouses are as following:

- The goods (or equipments), subject to customs duties, taxes or prohibitions at the importation.

- The goods (or equipments) formerly constituted under a suspensive regime or other privileged customs regime within the framework of customs regulation, and awaiting to re-export or to allocate them in any other permitted customs regime. 

 According to the provisions of Article 170 of the New Customs Code, the warehousing of the goods and equipment suspend the taxes and customs fees.

The Company has the choice between two types of customs warehouses: The public warehouse and private warehouse:

• Public warehouse

 The public warehouse is open to any person or Company for the storage of goods and equipments of all kinds. It is conceded by decree to municipalities or companies with public participation. The Company can put his rigs in a public warehouse under constant surveillance of customs against the payment of warehousing costs.

Please note that according to the provisions of Article 177 of the New Customs Code, the maximum stay of goods is set at five (05) years for public warehouses and three (03) years for special public warehouses (specially equipped by the State to receive dangerous items or goods requiring special facilities)

• Private warehouses (formerly named bonded warehouses)

 The private warehouse is granted:

-          to Companies whose purpose is the storage of goods for the benefit of others,

-          to industrial or commercial Companies for their exclusive use.

 Accordingly, the Company can rent a warehouse or use its own warehouse.

The equipment can stay in private warehouse for two (02) years, however, the Director General of Customs may, in exceptional circumstances, extend this deadline at the Company’ request.

Further to the provisions of Article 186 of the new Customs Code, the Customs officers may perform any operation of inspection, control and identification of the goods and tools at the warehouse at any time.

Please note that during the stay of the rigs in the warehouse, the Company can perform maintenance or repairing operations. If the Company want to remove the rigs from the warehouse for repairing; it shall obtain a prior authorization for temporarily remove. However, the Company can move the rigs from a warehouse to another on simple notification to the competent customs services.

 

Khadhafi à Paris - Le ridicule ne tue plus

Pour une première, c'est une première. En 34 ans?

Mais qu'est-ce qu'il l'a pris Sarko? Qu'elle mouche l'a piqué?
D'abord il envoie sa femme (ex-femme) séjourner chez le Colonel, après échange de courtoisie oblige, il le reçoit, et en guise de remerciement se fait traiter de vilain menteur.

Motifs de l'invitation?
Flair du politicien "avant-gardiste", flair du commerçant "hors-normes" ou simple gourde?

Commerçant hors-normes? puisqu'il allait "signer pour une dizaine de milliards d'euros de contrats" avec la Libye lors de la visite du dirigeant Mouammar Kadhafi", comme l'a déclaré le Président français le 10 décembre à la presse. De quoi combler quasiment le déficit du commerce extérieur français, réponse ironique du maire de Paris, c'est du "bidon".

Politicien avant-gardiste? Oh, qu'elle est jolie la nouvelle Libye, terre d'avenir, la Libye d'après l'embargo, d'après la libération des infirmières bulgares, d'après l'affaire Lockerbie, le leader-frère vient essuyer ses godasses ensanglantées sur le "paillasson" français.

Et les droits de l'Homme, dans tout ça? D'abord, il y a Rama Yade qui les protège en retentissement à la Journée Mondiale des Droits de l'Homme, et puis il y a Sarkozi, qui rassurant les français et les parties de l'opposition à l'affut du moindre laisser-aller, affirme avoir remonté les bretelles du leader libyen.

Kadhabi a directement démenti M. Sarkozy, en affirmant n'avoir pas discuté avec lui des droits de l'Homme lundi et que la question des droits de l'Homme ne se "pose pas" dans son pays :p Il n'a même pas oublier de donner la leçon à son hôte quant au respect des droits des immigrés.

Essayant vainement de corriger le tir, de raccourcir le nez de Pinocchio de Sarko, le secrétaire général de la présidence Claude Guéant est monté au créneau pour soutenir le contraire, pour affirmer qu'il était témoin de la discussion entre les deux "PréZidents" et de son contenu.

Alors flair du politicien "avant-gardiste", flair du commerçant "hors-normes" ou simple gourde?
Je me suffis à sourire en attendant les guignols.

Libyen Exchange Regulation

Exchange :
The Libyan dinar is not a convertible currency; it is used only for the current operations in the country.
However, any local or foreign Investor may have the right to open an account into foreign exchange or transferable currencies with a Commercial Bank or the Libyan Arab Foreign Bank.

The accounts in foreign exchange are lawful as following:
- by deposits in foreign exchange,
- sums transferred from abroad,
- sums transferred from another domestic account in foreign exchange,
- the foreign currency equivalent,
- banking interest on the aforesaid accounts and,
- any legal channel.

Functioning of accounts in foreign exchange:

The accounts shall be used for the following purposes:
- cash payment in foreign currency to the account holder himself or to any payee whom he specifies,
- the execution of transfers in a foreign currency inside Libya or abroad based on the account holder’s request,
- transfers to another account in foreign exchange and
- any legal purposes.

Also, the foreign currency account holder can sell all or a portion of the balance to banks. Article 43 of the banking Law n°1 of 1373 P.D. (2005)

Foreign exchange transactions shall be executed through banks and licensed entities for that purpose by the Central Bank of Libya. In this matter, each bank and entity shall prepare a periodic statement of the foreign exchange that it sells or buys, the foreign exchange that it receives for transactions involving the export of goods and services, and foreign exchange balances at its disposal.

To be noted in this respect that such entity must transfer all said foreign exchange to the Central Bank of Libya at the times stipulated by the Central Bank of Libya. Article 47 of the banking Law n°1 of 1373 P.D. (2005)

Transfer of foreign currency: The Investor shall have the right to re-export his invested capital in the following cases:
- Expiry of the project period
- Liquidation of the project
- Sale of the project wholly or partly
- Five (05) years period delay starting from the date of investments permits’ approval.

He can also retransfer the foreign capital abroad after six months delay from the date of the entry if difficulties beyond his control prevent investment thereof.

Transfer of net profits and benefits distributed and interests achieved by the project is annually allowed.

The foreign employees shall have the right to transfer abroad their salaries, wages and any other benefits or gratuities.


However , bringing into or taking out of Libya Libyan currency except in the cases and according to the conditions stipulated by the board of directors of the Central Bank of Libya in a decree published in the register of Actions.

Transfer of Shares:
The ownership of a Libyan project may be transferred wholly or partly to another investor by consent of the Libyan Foreign Investment Board (LFIB).
The new owner shall replace the previous regarding rights, duties and obligations.
Article 17 of the Libyan Law No. (5) of 1426 PB (1997) for Promotion of Investment of Foreign Capital, as Amended by Law No. (7) of 1371 PD (2003)
The value of goods and services inside Libya shall be paid in the Libyan dinar, the equivalent value thereof in means of banking payment authorized by the Central Bank of Libya may be accepted.
Article 48 of the banking Law n°1 of 1373 P.D. (2005)
Libyan Shares Acquisition in a foreign Companies: Transfers and transactions of a capital nature from and to Libya may be executed according to the terms and conditions set by the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Libya.

The operations made between the Maghreb countries are organized and facilitated by the Convention on a unified procedure of the bilateral payments.
Article 52 of the banking Law n°1 of 1373 P.D. (2005)

Credits in foreign exchange:
Commercial Banks operating in Libya can grant credit in foreign exchange with sufficient guarantees. Article 53 of the banking Law n°1 of 1373 P.D. (2005)

Liberté d'expression: Attention à ne pas enfreindre la loi

La liberté d'expression est belle est bien garantie par notre Constitution, dès l'annonce de son article 8.
Mais avant d'abuser de cette liberté, il faut toujours avoir bien en tête que:

- L'article 67 (Nouveau) du Code pénal ^Note Modifié par le décret du 31 mai 1956 ^Note Modifié par la loi n° 2005-46 du 6 juin 2005 portant approbation de la réorganisation de quelques dispositions du code pénal et leur rédaction.énonce que" Est puni de trois (03) ans d'emprisonnement et de deux cent quarante (240) dinars d'amende ou de l'une de ces deux peines seulement, quiconque, hors les cas prévus aux articles 42 et 48 du code de la presse, se rend coupable d'offense contre le chef de l'État."

Enfin, des soldats onusiens au Darfour

Le Conseil de sécurité onusien a adopté le 31 juillet la résolution tant attendue de déployer d'une force internationale au Darfour.

Depuis le début 2003, des centaines de milliers d'enfants, de jeunes et de moins jeunes périssent, les forces mondiales se suffisent à regarder en silence, les journalistes noircissent des pages et des pages et ne gagnent que quelques lecteurs enragés et impuissants.
La mission sera conjointe entre les NU et de l'Union africaine, près de 26 000 hommes, le budget n'est pas énorme non plus.
Adoptée à l’initiative de la France et du Royaume-Uni, au prix de quelques concessions, la résolution 1769 stipule que le conflit au Darfour constitue « une menace à la paix et à la sécurité internationale ». Le texte autorise la Minuad, sous le chapitre VII de la charte de l’ONU (qui légitime l’usage de la force), à prendre « les actions requises » pour « protéger ses personnels », assurer la sécurité des travailleurs humanitaires et « protéger les civils ».
Tout çà est bien beau, seul hic, ces forces n'arriveront à la province soudanaise que le 31 décembre, d'ici là, Dieu seul peut épargner la catastrophe.

Vidéo Election de Me Abderrazak Kilani - Barreau - Section de Tunis

Eléction de me Kilani Proclamation du Résultat
envoyé par tunisiawatch

Eléction de me Kilani: Discour
envoyé par tunisiawatch

Me Chawki Tabib vous m'avez réellement convaincue, je salue respectueusement vos qualités humaines et professionnelles, mais c'est la loi de la démocratie élective. Je vous souhaite bon courage dans ce qui suivra, parce que le parcours est encore long et la réussite sera pour celui qui a longue haleine. Bonne chance w rabbi m3ak.

L'abstentionniste votera pour Me Chawki Tabib

Je n'ai jamais songé, moi l'abstentionniste déclarée que je ferai un jour l'éloge d'un avocat candidat à une élection quelconque. Tout juste sortant d'un meeting avec Me Chawki Tabib (Candidat à la présidence de la section régionale des avocats de Tunis) dans les locaux d'ACR toujours aussi ouverts que de grands bras accueillant, je suis réellement éblouie par les qualités de l'homme mais aussi par la qualité de discours qui se veut pertinent et par les points de son programme pour moderniser un corps de métier agonisant. Et je me mets d'un coup à espérer un avenir meilleur, et je serai là dimanche, pour sauter un pas et faire que cet avenir sera possible.