Thousands of Tunisians marched to mark May Day. A large demonstration gathered outside the Tunisian General Federation of Labour (UGTT) headquarters before marching through the capital city. Another demonstration was called by the recently-established Union of Tunisian Labour (UTT). Rising levels of unemployment are fuelling workers’ anger.

On 30 April hundreds of unemployed protesters from the phosphate mining region of Gafsa marched in the capital Tunis demanding jobs. Two men from the mining town of Om Larayes tried to kill themselves during the protest. Unemployment levels in the Gafsa region are nearly 50 percent, more than double the national rate of 18 percent.