By: Fatou Krubally
Ebrima Drammeh, a migrant situation reporter and advocate, has described the $ 200 monthly salary deal accepted by the Government of the Gambia for Gambian migrant workers who choose to work in Saudi Arabia as self-slavery
“How can anyone leave their home country for just $200; it’s not just about the money but dignity and respect. The workers are not only risking their well-being for insufficient pay but potentially subjecting themselves to exploitative conditions that deny them basic rights,” he said in a statement made available to this medium.
Drammeh expressed concerns over the low salary offer, highlighting the challenging working conditions in Saudi Arabia compared to Europe.
“In Europe, when your time is up, you go home; if you work extra, you get paid for it. In the Arab world, you can work from dawn till late at night without proper compensation or time off. The $200 salary would not be sufficient for Gambian workers to support themselves in a foreign country, especially considering the long hours and intense labour expected in Saudi workplaces,” Drammeh explained.
He criticized the Government of Gambia for accepting such a deal, calling it a “big disaster.”
He further questioned the decision-making process behind accepting the offer and urged for a revaluation of the terms to ensure fair compensation and working conditions for Gambian workers abroad.
Drammeh urged individuals to think carefully before accepting such low-paying job offers, stating that working under such conditions would essentially mean self-enslavement.
