“Prices have gone up everywhere and everything for that matter. Workers are struggling to survive while Government does nothing. As we speak the minimum wage is where it was over ten years ago,” Kebba Masanneh Ceesay, chairman of Gambia Trade Union Bureau (GAMTUB), said, while Ebrima Garba Cham, the secretary-general of The Gambia National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), the government to step in and manage prices set by the “monopolistic retail sellers” in the economy.
The duo were speaking on the occasion of the celebration of the 2024 International Workers Day known as May Day.
The Day is a day of celebration and a day of reckoning by highlighting the struggle for the achievements made in securing workers' rights and the ongoing challenges faced by workers globally.
This day also serves as a forum to make sober reflections of your achievements and challenges in the previous year and make projections for the future.
The Gambia Trade Union Bureau (GAMTUB) is the representive of 14 affiliate trade unions in The Gambia from diverse sectors of labour.
It advocates for fair labour practices, security, social protection, social dialogue, social justice, economic equality and participation in all decisions that affect the lives of the workers and their families within the context of decent work.
Mr Ceesay affirmed that the current rising cost of goods and services poses a significant challenge to workers' livelihoods, adding that exacerbating income inequality and economic hardships cannot be ignored any longer.
Chairman Ceesay called on The Gambia government to immediately set up a National Salary Review Commission to establish a Living Wage for every worker as well as well-deserved pensioners.
He also called on government to review wages and salary to commensurate with the current market prices.
According to him, it is incumbent on the government to take measures to control inflation by not increasing taxes in the first place.
“The government must implement measures to curb inflation and stabilise market prices to safeguard the purchasing power of workers' wages. Without such intervention, the livelihoods of workers remain at risk, exacerbating economic disparities, social injustice and security risks,” he also added.
He urged the Commissioner of Labour to without delay, set the various Industrial Council (JIC) up and running.
He went on to say that the revival of the Joint Industrial Council (JIC) is paramount in fostering collective bargaining between the government employers and workers to address working conditions and benefits.
He pointed out that workers continue to be partners with the government in every aspect of socio economic development for the promotion of peace and security.
He also appealled to the government to include workers in the National Commissions that are set up, thus promoting transparency and accountability.
He further called for the inclusion of worker representatives in the National Security Council to ensure that workers' perspectives are considered in discussions relating to security and stability.
Commenting on road transport sub-sector, he said there is total lack of job security for commercial drivers, noting that over 95% percent of commercial drivers in The Gambia do not have formal contract, no social security benefits, and no social protection whatsoever. This, he said makes them most unsecured and vulnerable to unfair practices by vehicle owners (employer.)
He further described the lack of commercial garages in The Gambia as one of the challenges that the road transport sub-sector faces across the county.
He therefore called on the government to ensure that Local Governments identify and provide spaces suitable for garages.
He also called on the government to ratify the the conventions.
Ceesay also urged the government to recall the Draft Trade Union Bill to enable stakeholders make final amendments and give it its final reading and validation for forward transmission to the National Assembly for enactment.
Meanwhile, Garba Cham stated: “In view of the high standard of living which 60% of inflation is caused by corporate greed.”
“Since 2019, prices are sky-rocketing by 18.5% which will in the long, may create crisis due to lack of purchasing power. The Trade Union Congress is very much concerned with our economy. Which remains confusing and depressing inflation, unemployment, poverty hikes, inequality and other key socio economy variable worsening making very few to meet the basic necessities of life and our youth folks dying in the deepest ocean (Mediterranean) sea and the desert for seeking greener pasture,” Mr Cham said.
“Presently, the Trade deficit in dalasi term is 44 billion dalasis which is more than the estimate expenditure in 2024 which is 39 billion Dalasi as revealed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic affairs. Gambia's stock debt has increased to 110-6 Billion.”
Therefore, we should utilise our capacities for the building of a self reliant economy and Produce what we consume, rather than Lion share export abroad. Without a strong economy, no strong currency and with a strong economy the impact will be decreased in inflation and deficit and we will be a chain supply hub in the sub region,” Cham pointed out.
“The Dalasi is declining and its value becoming worthless losing its value creating economic instability, high inflation, low foreign exchange reserve and large foreign exchange deficit with annual significant depreciation by 9.6% over the dollar by 7%.”
Power and weak Agriculture sector
“Agriculture is the main bone of The Gambia both land and the sea which also include the black sand. Increase in revenue will only increase Government Purchasing power widening Trade deficits. If we invest in Agriculture, it could provide us with employment creation, free education, free quality Health services to our doorstep, we will industrialise and eradicate unemployment, and the energy sector will be transformed to provide and create adequate electricity supply by going into solar and wind mills and fight climate change for economic independence.”
The Union among other things also urged government to establish an economic action to forestall the depreciating Dalasi; address the high cost of living and lack of purchasing power as salaries do not commensurate with the consumer price index; and implement the SMES Policy.
