By Adama Makasuba
Staff workers of Banjul Breweries Company Limited that staged sit down strike on Monday vowed to continue staging strikes until government considers their plights.
The staff gathered at the gate of the company demanding for government to reconsider decision on excise tax policy introduced in December 2018 from 10% to75%, which already forced the company to lay off some staffs
Speaking to journalists, the president of the Company’s Workers Union Alagie Ceesay said “our purpose of the sit down strike is about the tax increment from 10% to 75%and since December our management has been engaging the government about the issue and up to date, we don’t heard anything positive.”
He said they have engaged the members of the National Assembly about the issue but that nothing has come out of the engagement, adding that the lawmakers told them that they sitting of the House will start on June 10, 2019.
“Waiting for the lawmakers to sit over the matter on June 10, is so long. We decided to express our feeling and unhappiness to government about the ways and manner the authority’s concern are handling matter towards the welfare of the company,” he pointed out.
Mr. Ceesay said if the current situation continues the company will eventually closed down, adding that the closure of the company will also cause negative impact toward national development of the country.
Bekai Kujabi, who worked at the company for 28-years, appealed to government to consider the decision and allow the company to start operation, adding that it contribute immensely to the national development of the country.
Another staff at the company, Lamin Conteh, a father of five, said “this is the only hope I have so if here is close is going to be crazy on me.”
Meanwhile, a sister company of Banjul Breweries Company Limited in Niger has also been closed over high increment of tax by the authorities of Niger, and this situation worried the staff workers of the company in the Gambia.
