The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) marked International Workers’ Day with a powerful call for Gambian workers to stand united in defending their rights and welfare. Commemorating the 1886 workers’ strike in America that birthed this global observance, EFSCRJ highlighted the ongoing struggles of workers worldwide, including in The Gambia, where poor pay, harassment, unfair treatment, over-taxation, and substandard working conditions persist due to failures by the state and employers to uphold labor laws.
In a public statement, EFSCRJ saluted Gambian workers, recognizing them as the backbone of the nation’s governance and development through their production of wealth, goods, and services. The organization urged workers to educate themselves on labor laws, exercise their rights, and form unions to secure their welfare and dignity. “Workers are the foundation of our country’s progress. It is imperative they organize to protect their rights,” the statement emphasized.
The EFSCRJ paid tribute to Edward Francis Small, The Gambia’s pioneering trade unionist who, over a century ago, mobilized workers to demand their rights and laid the groundwork for trade unions. His legacy, the Centre noted, remains a beacon for today’s labor movement.
The statement welcomed the Labour Act of 2023, which strengthens protections for workers, including women, pregnant employees, and those with disabilities. The Act guarantees paternity and maternity leave, safe working conditions, rest, leisure, and the right to form unions, engage in collective bargaining, and undertake industrial action. It also ensures access to training and work-related information. EFSCRJ further noted that The Gambia’s ratification of several International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, including those on freedom of association, equal remuneration, and the abolition of forced labor, reinforces these protections.
However, EFSCRJ expressed concerns about gaps in the Labour Act. Notably, Section 3 excludes civil servants, armed forces, and other disciplined forces from its protections, a limitation the Centre argues denies these workers their fundamental rights. Additionally, Section 167 imposes restrictive requirements for unions to achieve sole bargaining status, hindering workers’ ability to organize effectively.
To address these issues, EFSCRJ issued a series of recommendations. It called on the government to reform the Labour Act to extend labor rights to civil servants, security forces, and domestic workers. The Centre urged both public and private sector employers to comply with existing laws, including the Labour Act, Women’s Act, Persons with Disabilities Act, and Anti-Corruption Act, to ensure comprehensive worker protections. Employers were also encouraged to adopt internal policies, such as sexual harassment, whistleblower protection, and grievance mechanisms, to safeguard workers’ rights and dignity.
EFSCRJ called on trade unions and the Workers’ Confederation to intensify their advocacy and engagement with stakeholders. Most importantly, it urged workers to unite, organize, and agitate for their rights, declaring, “Workers of The Gambia, Unite, Organize and Agitate for Your Rights and Welfare! Today.”
Designating 2025 as “The Year of Transparency and Accountability,” EFSCRJ reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for workers’ rights and fostering a just and equitable labor environment in The Gambia.
