GCCI kick-starts Training of Trainers on Gambia‘s Labour Laws tomorrow

The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), will tomorrow kick-start a two-day training of trainers workshop on the ‘Employers’ Guide on the Labour Laws of The Gambia’.

The training, which will be held at the GCCI Secretariat/conference room tomorrow and Thursday, will be the first of two sets or batches of participants to be trained on the country’s labour laws in order for them to train others. 

Each batch will involve between 20 and 25 participants, drawn from the GCCI Business Development and Corporate Service personnel, GCCI Employers’ Committee, presidents of trade unions, and presidents/secretaries general of business associations. 

The training course for the second batch will be held on 21 and 22 September 2016.

“We want to ensure the implementation of the Labour Laws Guide Book, as well as to equip employers with the various Acts in the law,” GCCI’s Director of Corporate Services Beatrice Mboge said.

The training workshop will center on the following, as detailed in the guide book: Labour Act 2007, Women’s Act 2010, Social Security Act 2010, Injuries Compensation Fund Act 1990, The Ombudsman Act 1997, Children’s Act 2005, Public Service Act 1991, Roles of Dispute Resolution Stakeholder institutions, Alternatives, procedures, and mechanisms for mediation and arbitration, and the collective roles dispute resolution stakeholder institutions can play in helping settle commercial disputes.

The training activity, according to the organisers, is expected to prepare trainers towards sensitization and advocacy on labour/ Industrial relations within the private sector, better equip trainers on the various Acts and how they should be in congruence with workplace policy, help manage employer/ employee relations, enlighten employers’ on industrial dispute resolution structures, mechanism and procedures, and encourage implementation of workplace rules/ policy.

It would be recalled that the Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Employers’ Association with the support of ILO and services of Emanic Consulting developed a GCCI Employers’ Guide on the Labour Laws of The Gambia, which was launched in May 2016 at the GCCI Secretariat.

The Guide summarises the various Acts (mentioned above) that encompass employment laws of The Gambia applicable to businesses, the public sector and all employees, stated GCCI.

“The Guide was successfully launched on May 4th 2016 with a large turnout of employers, partners and executives,” Mrs Mboge said, adding that the GCCI was pleased to host ILO directors and staff from Dakar at the launching.

“However, to ensure rapid an effective use and implementation of the contents of the Guide book and the above mentioned Acts, the GCCI proposes to conduct a Training of Trainers on the contents of the Employers’ Guide Book on the Labour Laws of The Gambia.”

Upon completion of the training course, trainers are expected to train/pass on lessons learnt to private sector institutions in The Gambia.

“This will also ensure that employers identify their roles, responsibilities, as well as rights in the workplace which will in turn avoid disputes or employee grievances,” she said, adding: “The training is planned to be an interactive session between the trainers and resource persons to ensure contents are well understood and digested. It will also serve as a platform for sharing of workplace experiences between representatives from various institutions and associations.”

The Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Employers’ Association is the recognised Employers’ Organisation of The Gambia by virtue of its diverse membership, she further stated.

“GCCI is continually striving to provide to its members a full range of services pertaining to industrial and labour matters.”

A statement by GCCI also said that as a not-for-profit organization, GCCI is performing its roles in accordance with “the letter and spirit of the laws of The Gambia, particularly in respect to employment laws, tax laws and social security and safety and environmental protection laws”, to ensure that the needs of its members are addressed, thereby promoting sound industrial relations in the workplace.

The private sector apex body has two guide books it has published, on the labour laws and taxation in The Gambia, that are of immense value to all stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

“They are the ‘Employers’ Guide on the Labour Laws of The Gambia’, and ‘The GCCI Guide to Taxation in The Gambia for MSMEs’. They are for sale at D200, each,” Mrs Mboge announced.