By Mustapha Jarju
Some employees of the Indian-owned MP Trading Company in The Gambia have voiced serious concerns regarding their working conditions. They claim to experience abuse, disrespect, and insufficient compensation for their strenuous efforts.
However, the management denied these allegations through their legal representative, who claimed they were false and meant to tarnish the image of his client’s Company.
Some employees, who requested to remain anonymous out of concern for potential repercussions from the Company, shared with TAT that they were compelled to work in substandard conditions and received inadequate compensation for their efforts.
In response to the allegations made by the staff of MP Trading Company, the Company’s HR unit, represented by the company lawyer Pa Harry Jammeh, told TAT that MP Trading ensures fair treatment of its employees. The company lawyer added that overtime payments comply with labor laws despite the staff’s claims.
An insider and company employee who has worked for more than ten years alleged that he has remained in one position since hiring in 2006. He accused the Company of abusing staff by threatening them with sacking anytime a complaint was made against the poor working conditions.
“Our Indian bosses do not respect us here. We work under stress and poor conditions,” the source, an employee, told TAT.
Another employee added: “Although I get something out of what I earn, there is no respect, and even if you are injured in the work process, they don’t care,”
The employee shows our reporter a mark of an injury he sustained while at work.
“I was injured here. I told my boss about it, but he didn’t care and failed to listen to my concerns,” the source alleged.
Another employee at MP Trading, who also spoke to this medium, disclosed that he has been working with the Indians at MP Trading and has encountered difficulties.
“We are citizens, and we have concerns about these issues because the salaries we earn here are not good, but we have to manage to help our parents,” he said.
He earns a D3,000 basic salary from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift and also works overtime until 8 p.m. ” Some of us would get up to D7,000 to D8,000 if you combine our salaries with the overtime we worked for, which is unfair.”
He said that if you consider the transport fares and feeding, at the end of the day, what they get is a minimal amount.
“Employee grievances are always considered, and reforms are put in place to address related issues. Team members are encouraged to bring this to the management’s attention via their managers in writing,” said the Company in reaction to the allegations.
The HR Unit also highlighted that all MP Trading staff members are paid according to their responsibilities and duties. The Company has always supported team members under such circumstances. “
The Company also denied exploiting its Gambian Staff: “The company is not involved in any exploitive practices.” It added that the Company is in full compliance with labor laws.
The workers voiced their frustration over what they perceive as foreign nationals’ exploitation in their own country.
“What the Indians are doing in this country, our government is aware of it, and they are not talking about it,” one employee said.
He urged the National Assembly to address these issues for the sake of Gambian citizens.
In response to these allegations, the HR unit of MP Trading Company stated that they ensure fair treatment for all employees and that overtime payments align with labor laws. They emphasized that employee grievances are taken seriously and encouraged staff to report issues through proper channels.
“Our company does not involve itself in exploitive practices,” the HR unit asserted, claiming full compliance with labor laws.
However, workers remain skeptical about these assurances, feeling their voices are not heard, even after they have reached the administration several times about their salary improvements, which always remain an unfulfilled promise.
As concerns about labor practices continue growing among workers at MP Trading Company in The Gambia, management, and government authorities must address these issues transparently. The plight of local employees highlights broader concerns about labor rights and fair treatment within foreign-owned companies operating in the country.
