Workers Union SG calls for review of Expatriate Labour Board Act

The secretary general of The Gambia Workers Union, Ebrima Garba Cham, has recommended that since Gambian intellectuals are on the increase with the advent of the University of The Gambia, the Expatriate Labour Board Act should be reviewed to cater for and encourage indigenisation of jobs.

Mr Cham was speaking on Sunday at the Independence Stadium were workers from all over the country converged to celebrate May Day, which is observed every May 1.

The Gambia also observes the occasion as it is a day set aside to recognise the contributions of workers in socio-economic development of nations worldwide, and to also stand for solidarity of the working class of the world.

Cham said that through this event, grievances arising from work industries could be amicably addressed to avoid arbitration at the industrial tribunals.

The workers Union secretary general reminded the Minister of Trade and Employment about the recently-concluded joint industrial council meetings with a view to ratifying the minimum wage standard for workers in both the private and public sectors.

“We hope that this be done in the not too distant future, since a wage is a wage when it can take care of food, shelter, education and transportation; so we want a decent wage.”

Hence the need for prompt and adequate payment of workers’ social security by employers, as well as injury compensations, he added.

The trade union secretary general also demanded that the Ministry of Justice put in place a Rota system to clear the back-log of cases that have been lying at courts for several years, since ‘justice delayed is justice denied’.

He further recommended that since Gambian intellectuals are on the increase with the advent of the University of The Gambia, the Expatriate Labour Board Act should be reviewed to cater for and encourage indigenisation of jobs.

On the transport sector, Mr Cham said that since drivers are critical components of the country’s workforce, and in view of the huge fleet of vehicles plying the Greater Banjul Area without car parks, Central Car Parks should be established so as to alleviate the difficulties drivers face in the regions.