Dockworkers have been reassured by Ousman Jobarteh, Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), that their working conditions, pay, and safety will continue to be a top concern throughout the ongoing port concession transition.
Jobarteh discussed a recent incident in which a worker lost two fingers in an interview with West Coast Radio, pointing out that timely action by coworkers stopped additional damage.
Although the accident is regrettable, social security has an injury compensation legislation. According to the legislation, GPA and Alport have the required insurance that covers liability and injury based on the impairment, he clarified.
He underlined that measures are being taken to guarantee complete compliance throughout the changeover period and that the dock labor firm, a private operator, is in charge of offering sufficient insurance coverage.
Given the hazardous nature of the work, “the dock labor has provisioned to carry out insurance, and the workers will be adequately covered,” Jobarteh stated.
Regarding unpaid bills, he attested to the complete settlement of a GMD 17 million claim pertaining to rate computations under the new Service Level Agreement (SLA). “We were able to successfully engage Alport, and those funds have already been fully paid,” he added. “The 17 million that has been claimed was arrears that they were claiming there were differences in the rate calculation when the new SLA was brought in.”
Concerns regarding wage adjustments under the new rates were also addressed by Jobarteh. The new rates per move, which encourage more productivity, are the current problem, yet dock workers’ net pay have dropped. We have been actively involved, and if approved, a plan would restore pay to their prior levels and offer fresh incentives for increasing production,” he said.
He restated that the goal of the port concession is to improve operations without putting workers at a disadvantage.
“The concession is not here to disfavor any dockworker, GPA staff, or any Gambian. Transition arrangements are usually difficult, but we will manage it to the extent that the workers will not be put in a less than desirable situation as before the concession,” Jobarteh said.
