The Federation of Labour Unions of The Gambia has intensified calls for the introduction of a national minimum wage, warning that thousands of workers—particularly those in the private and informal sectors—are earning salaries that are increasingly incapable of meeting even their most basic living expenses.
Omar Ceesay, president of the federation, told StarTV that the union has submitted seven major demands to the government as part of efforts to improve wages, workplace conditions and the overall protection of Gambian workers.
At the centre of the federation’s concerns is what Ceesay described as the extremely low wages being paid to some workers outside the civil service.
While government employees at Grade One level earn at least D6,000 a month, he said some workers in the private and informal sectors survive on monthly salaries of just D2,000 or D3,000.
“We gave seven points on the needs of workers to the government, among them that the government should set a minimum wage for Gambian workers,” Ceesay said.
“Today, civil servants in Grade One are getting nothing less than D6,000, but if you go to the private sector and the informal sector, people are being paid D2,000 or D3,000. At the stage The Gambia is at right now, what can they do with that amount?”
His remarks raise broader questions about the living conditions of low-paid workers at a time when households must meet the rising costs of food, transportation, rent, electricity, healthcare and other everyday necessities.
For workers earning between D2,000 and D3,000 a month, even routine household expenses can consume a substantial portion of their income, leaving little or nothing for emergencies, education, medical treatment or savings.
The federation argues that leaving wage levels largely to individual employers risks creating a labour market in which vulnerable workers have little bargaining power and may be compelled to accept salaries that bear little relationship to the actual cost of living.
Ceesay said establishing a statutory national minimum wage would provide a basic income floor and prevent employers from paying workers below an officially recognised minimum standard.
Such a measure, the federation believes, would be particularly important for workers in the informal economy, where employment arrangements are often less secure and access to benefits and other labour protections can be limited.
The wage debate also raises the question of whether employment alone is sufficient to protect Gambians from poverty. A worker may technically have a job but could still struggle to feed a family, pay rent or meet transportation costs if earnings remain far below household expenses.
Beyond Wages: Safety and Dignity at Work
The federation’s demands extend beyond salaries.
Ceesay said stronger occupational health and safety measures are also being pursued, arguing that Gambians should not have to risk their health or lives simply because they need employment.
The issue is particularly significant for workers engaged in construction, manufacturing and other forms of physical labour where inadequate safety equipment, training or workplace supervision can expose employees to preventable injuries.
The labour federation is therefore seeking stronger policies and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that employers provide safe working environments.
Another potentially serious concern raised by Ceesay is sexual harassment in the workplace.
He disclosed that the federation has received complaints from workers who say they have experienced harassment and that discussions are underway with the government to establish policies aimed at protecting victims.
“Sexual harassment is happening in some workplaces because we’ve received complaints from workers, and we are working with the government to put policies in place that will protect workers from it and allow them to report the matter confidentially,” he said.
The call for confidential reporting mechanisms is significant because workers who depend on their salaries may be reluctant to report supervisors or employers if they fear dismissal, retaliation, humiliation or damage to their future employment prospects.
Ceesay said the federation is also engaging the government on measures to eliminate child labour and forced labour and to ensure that workers have access to social security and other protections available under labour law.
Taken together, the seven demands point to a wider concern within the labour movement: whether economic growth and employment opportunities are translating into decent living conditions for ordinary Gambian workers.
The challenge for the government will not simply be whether it agrees in principle with the federation’s proposals, but whether meaningful policies, enforcement mechanisms and wage protections are introduced to ensure that having a job also provides workers with a realistic chance of maintaining a basic standard of living.
