The countrywide campaign, which kick-started at the Lower River Region (LRR), was held at the LRR Governor’s Office in Mansakonko. It was meant to engage key stakeholders and popularise the contents of these documents gearing towards educating the public and seeking their opinions and perceptions about these issues.
The sensitization and awareness raising came up as the Ministry has reviewed and repealed the Labour Act 2007 to Labour Act 2023. The 2023 Act was adopted by the National Assembly in June 2023 and assented by the President of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow.
Also, the Ministry reviewed and repealed the National Employment Policy and Action Plan 2010-2014. The 2022-2026 was also recently approved.
Speaking at the opening of the daylong exercise at the Lower River Region, Governor Seedy Bah welcomed the team to his region, while reiterating the motive of the campaign exercise to the participants.
He described the exercise as timely taking into consideration the declaration made by His Excellency Adama Barrow on the creation of 150,000 jobs in the country. “And I think we are on course to achieve that.”
The technicians responsible for the implementation of the programme with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment were urged by Governor Bah to have a paradigm shift and understand that it is not a business as usual.
He, therefore, encouraged the participants to be steadfast and make use of the awareness raising exercise to ask questions, participate fully to make it very interactive so they could know more about the National Employment Policy, Action Plan 2022-2026 and the National Labour Act as they are “very important to everyone.”
Fabba Jammeh, Director of Employment at the MOTIE, expatiated on why they kick started the campaign, saying it is to raise awareness of the people, get the message down to everyone as well as the policy and Act for the people. “That’s why we have to popularise the documents.”
He noted that the Ministry is looking forward to conduct national employment forum, describing this exercise as a preparation to it.
Mr. Fabba disclosed that the employment policy has a target to create150,000 jobs. The Ministry provides the employment policy while employers, the enterprise industries create the jobs for the young people.
He added that 150,000 jobs are achievable because the importance of this sensitisation is to enlighten people and give the feedback of what they been doing and the structures already in place so that both the Ministry, public and private sector can work together towards its achievement.
Sida B. Sanneh, deputy commissioner at the Department of Labour, highlighted what always becomes an issue between employees and employers, citing non-payment of allowances accordingly and lack of employment letters and others.
Participants expressed their happiness over those important documents, saying it would help and guide them in their job hunting and at their working places.
Some said the documents are an eye opener in dealing with employers to have good work bargain and a win-win situation when it comes to employees and employers matters.
The sensitisation campaign continued on Tuesday at the North Bank Region.
Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf the participants, Corporal 5309 Fatou Faye-Kujabi of the Gambia Police Force, thanked the National Human Rights Commission for the training, which brought together 40 participants from the various security sectors.
She said the unprecedented training was a demonstration of the NHRC’s commitment to collaboration and partnership in the provision and protection of human rights in The Gambia.
“The lessons have enlightened our minds and shown us a new path,” she stated, saying:“Thanks to the participants for honouring the occasion, respecting ground rules and sharing your opinions.”
She further urged participants to conduct step-down training in their respective institutions for the benefit of their colleagues who were not selected to be part of the training.
