The Center for Research and Action on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CRADESC), based in Senegal, with financial support from the For a Just Society Foundation (FJS) and in partnership with local organizations and institutions, conducted a study on the rights of domestic workers in West Africa.
The results of this study in The Gambia have been compiled into a report that includes strong recommendations to develop policy strategies aimed at assisting domestic workers in working with dignity and respect for their fundamental rights.
A validation workshop and disseminating of the results of the study on the document of the violations of the economic, social, and cultural rights of domestic workers was held on Friday at the Baobab Hotel in Bijilo.
The meeting, as well brought together state institutions, trade unions and civil society organisations working to protect and promote the rights of domestic workers in the Gambia.
The study report highlights serious shortcomings in the application of labor regulations and violations of the rights and freedoms of domestic workers from the beginning to the end of their contracts.
As stated in the report, a total of 504 domestic workers were interviewed, along with various stakeholders in the sector regarding their formal employment status, 85.91% of domestic workers do not have written contracts, even though they are legally required to have written declarations containing essential information about their employment conditions.
Additionally, registration with social security is lacking, as 75.71% of these workers do not benefit from the social protection guaranteed by Gambian legislation.
Molamin Suso, the Secretary General of the Domestic Workers Union, advise his colleagues to keep on advocating and fighting for their rights not for today but for the future.
"Employment comes with writings not verbal agreement.Ask your employers to provide contracts on paperwork.We are not enemies to the government but our rights have to be respected as well," Suso stresses.
