Written by Mohsen Bentouati of Tunisia’s Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment, says a biometric identification card pilot program could benefit a wide range of government workforce programs.
Several unemployment support groups first requested Tunisia implement a biometric ID card system in 2011 as a way of covering all employment services. For instance, a student would be issued a card by the Department of Higher Education when he entered college, which would then register his training. Once the student completes their classes, the card would store their credentials and send them to job centers to assist their employment search.
Then, when the student is hired and begins working the same card could record the level of contributions made to social services programs, track government grants, or provide healthcare benefits. Combining all these social service programs onto one system will raise overall system efficiency, says Bentouati.