By: Nyima Sillah
The Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), Baboucarr O. Joof, assured the safety of the Gambian domestic workers while bidding them farewell to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Monday.
The first batch that left on Monday 17th February comprised twenty-two (22) Gambian women. This would be followed by the second batch of twenty-three (23) expected to depart on 27th February 2025.
During the farewell ceremony held at the Ministry of Trade, Minister Joof stated that the event marked the first deployment of workers under the agreement signed in 2023, noting that the second batch of workers comprising twenty-three (23) women are expected to leave for Saudi Arabia on the 27th February 2025.
He described the occasion as significant, not just for the workers and their families, but for The Gambia. “This agreement represents a viable avenue for Gambians to secure employment and to support themselves and their families.”
Minister Joof encouraged the women by stressing the importance of the economic advancement opportunity, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring their safety and well-being while abroad.
“The government and the licensed agencies would monitor their welfare and provide them with the necessary support during their stay in the Kingdom,” he asserted.
He urged the workers to be law-abiding, respect their Saudi employers, and report any complaints to the Staff of the Gambian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and the Ministry of Trade or to the licensed agencies.
According to the Ministry during the 2023 Africa-Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia, The Gambia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed the “Bilateral Labour Agreement for the Recruitment of Domestic Workers” and the “Bilateral Labour Agreement for the Recruitment of Skilled Workers”
to provide a structured and regulated framework for the recruitment and employment of Gambians in Saudi Arabia.
“The agreements include provisions for fair wages, and working conditions, among others. To ensure that the women are well-equipped to manage any challenges they may encounter, they underwent comprehensive pre-departure training and orientation on essential aspects of Saudi Arabian culture, labour laws, workplace safety as well as on their rights and responsibilities as migrant workers.
