505 16 Workers Day observed

The Gambia Saturday joined the rest of the world to observe Workers Day also known as May Day at a ceremony held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
About 58 companies/institutions took part in the event, which began with a march past from the Bakau Police Station to the Independence Stadium. May 1st each year is dedicated to workers all over the world. The day is in commemoration of the adaptation of the Philadelphia Declaration in 1919, which was meant to lessen the hardship and exploitation faced by workers during the Industrial Revolution.

Addressing the workers during the opening ceremony, Jato Sillah, the minister of Forestry and the Environment, on behalf of the minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment, said May Day is globally celebrated to reflect on the wishes and aspirations of workers. He explained that the day is not only for festivities but a forum to make sober national reflections on the achievements and failures of the previous years so as to make projection for the future within the tentacles of strength and weakness.

"It is an occasion in which producers of the nation’s wealth have to endure and to renew or rededicate themselves in upholding and promoting the principles of justice, equal remuneration for work of equal value and safe and healthy work conditions through appropriate policy orientation," he stated. He said the government of The Gambia for its part will continue to ensure that the fundamental rights, reward, dignity, and honour workers deserved are maintained at all times. This however, he stressed, comes with certain responsibilities including discipline, hard work, loyalty and patriotism.

Minister Sillah stated that a conducive work environment goes beyond the walls of adequate pay and ideal working conditions, and that there is the need for unity of purpose among workers and between workers and employees. He told the gathering that peaceful and stable work environment are necessary, adding that it’s only through these that one can realize his or her potentials to the fullest.

He disclosed that the government of The Gambia in its pursuit to ensure social justice and maintain better living conditions for workers, had with technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO) embarked on Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in November 2008. This, he said, is meant to create jobs for Gambians as well as promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equality, security and human dignity.

Global economic crisis
Dilating on the issue of the global economic crisis, Minister Sillah told the workers that the unfolding economic crisis has refocused attention on the spreading impact of globalization not just on financial institutions, big or small, or nations rich or poor, but also on labour markets and the plights of employees and their families.

The current crisis, the minister continued, "propel the rising unemployment and social instability, entailing the risk of a deflationary spiral undermining salaries, livelihoods and social protection as well as massive wastage of human resources and productive skills". He added that research findings have revealed that immediate job losses may soon pass 50 million, and with an annual inflow of 49 million new entrants in the global labour market, a prolonged employment crisis is imminent.

Regional Level
At the regional level, Minister Sillah said the global financial crisis has affected African countries and people, causing severe social economic impacts. Growth, macroeconomic stability, employment, and sustainable livelihoods are jeopardized as well as economic and social progress achieved during recent years. He added that statistic records show that endemic unemployment (about 18%) is viewed as one of the major challenges facing West African countries which he described as a huge loss of vital human resources thereby calling on the people to brace up to the challenge. "In a bid to address the growing unemployment and poverty situation, the government has established GAMJOBS, which seeks to create an enabling environment for employment creation," he disclosed.

Minister Sillah applauded President Jammeh and the government for the unflinching and untiring efforts in the provision of employment and decent work for the populace. For his part, Ebrima Garba Cham, the secretary general of the National Trade Union Congress said The Gambia has enjoyed a stable economic environment with an annual growth rate of 6%, but unemployment remains a key concern to the government and the labour movement. According to him, as a country, The Gambia has been trying to focus attention on employment creation as well as coming up with innovations that help in addressing issues of unemployment and underemployment.

The Gambia, he said must be a partner in a truly global effort to stimulate and sustain job-driven recovery. He then thanked the Gambian leader for the establishment of GAMJOBS and the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) which he described as a move towards reducing the rate of unemployment.

Trade Union Action Plan 2010
Cham explained that presently they are organizing workers in the informal and the non-formal economy to specialize them according to their various disciplines in encouraging them on training activities and certification of individuals and employees, and to establish collective agreements on better terms and conditions of work in the spirit of achieving the objective of the employment policy action plan, PRSP, MDGs and Vision 2020.

He revealed that as part of the action plan, they are also working with concerned institutions on employment creation on a projected cost of D8, 000,000 for 100 people as a start which he said will also contribute remarkably in alleviating poverty among youth and women. Cham made a lot of recommendations all geared towards improving the living condition of workers as well as national development.

The celebrations were as usual characterized by sporting activities. Present at the celebrations were Elizabeth Renner, the speaker of the National Assembly, National Assembly members, cabinet ministers, heads of various companies and institutions among others.