Yesterday, the Gambian workers joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Workers’ Day.
This day is set aside to celebrate, appreciate and review the condition of workers from around the world.
Mr President, during the past twenty-two years, this day was just like any other day with workers creatively using sports to have fun while they endured some of the worst conditions in the world.
Workers in this country receive one of lowest salaries in the region but that hasn’t affected their performance in giving quality at work.
Despite the fact that there wasn’t any demonstration or strike yesterday, as has been the case in many parts of the world, your government cannot waste any more time in improving the working conditions and the salaries of your civil servants.
Mr President, your government doesn’t need a market survey to know that the salaries the civil servants receive are outrageously low to even cater for the needs of a small family much less those breadwinning an extended family.
Many of these civil servants, who we all see toil everyday so this country will not crumble, almost entirely rely on loans which they keep piling up for their unborn children. This is a sad story and your government, even if it builds skyscrapers in the bush, will receive a thumb-down if people continue to struggle to put food on the table for their families.
The Standard therefore calls on you and your government to prioritise salary increment, and do it as quickly as possible, for most of your workers are silently suffering.
