By Muhammed MS. Bah
Gambia Milling Corporation Company (GMC) Staff on Monday 27th February, protested against the management of the company alleging unfair treatment they are experiencing at the company. The unhappy employees who work under terrible conditions were out to demand several changes to their working conditions. They had specific demands for their employer to help make life better for them. The following were the demands from the staff of GMC.
1. Employees demanded a qualified Gambian Human Resource personnel to be appointed per Personnel Management policies.
2. That the company provide Medical insurance including family members and dependents.
3. Full time employment for contractors to employees after 6 months probation period
4. Salary increment and better incentive, including respect for employees and customers
7. Employ the right qualified people in the right positions
8. Provide transportation in for form of staff buses, provide Promotion and upgrading of staffs among other things.
The staff complained of many things that the company promised to do but fail to live up to expectations, They lamented that the management of the company treat them unprofessionally and inhumanely like slaves.
Speaking on behalf of the staff Madam Marie Catherine Njie a staff of the company said, they are not respected as employees by the company and the management is not concern with their welfare, ‘’this company when we come in by 7am they don’t allow us to go out even if we want to buy bread the securities will not allow you to go out. If the human resources manager is not around to give you a permit you will not go out for breakfast’’. She added.
Madam Njie added that if a staff is sick at home one have to manage to come otherwise you will be marked absent and it will be deducted from your salary.
Omar saho for his part said, when you are appointed in the company you spend six months on probation after that they will say they will staff you which is not done. “all of us here are under one year contract”. He added, they were told that they will increase their salaries which was never done. ‘’ the company used to have a staff association but the management dissolve it without any reasons. We don’t have any access to loans, risk allowance. We don’t have personal benefits instead are just working for the well being of the company’’. Mr. Saho asserted that among the staff they are not paid equally some receive more and others receive less. He said there is a man among them by the name Habibou Bojang he got an accident during work and the company did not take the responsibility of paying his treatment bills he struggle to pay it for himself which is not fair.
Another staff who shows her dissatisfaction was seen crying out of anger. Madam Anta Jobe in her words said, some of them have been serving the company for more than four years but still cannot buy a bicycle, ‘’since the establishment of this company we have no staff bus, we pay our own fares to come to work, don’t have any medical insurance if you are sick you are responsible for your own treatment’’. Madam Jobe asserted that when you come to work and go home a day without been sacked you should thank God; the manager sacks staff without any explanation to the reasons for sacking people.
Habibu Bojang also a staff lost one of his hands during work at the company. He lamented that he lost his arm due to the negligence of the company since he had the accident during shift work at the company. He decried that he was not taken care of as expected, he has been denied his benefits as an employee. Some of the senior staff who are part of the management disclosed that the company is making nothing less than 5 million Dalasi for every month but still the working conditions of the staff is not good.
At the protest the secretary General of Gambia workers union Ebrima Garba Cham, when asked about their stance on this issue, Mr. Cham told reporters that he came to find out the issue from both the staff and management after which the union will know what steps they will take. This reporter tries to meet the management but was told they are very busy and will be in torch with the media when he is done. Police OC Habibou Sanyang, who this reporter met at the protest scene said they were told to come and maintain the peace. He said they will communicate to the PRO of Police and any information needed will be given to the press.
1 Comment
It sounds to me like the employer needs to implement hourly wage. You work you get paid, you call in too much or abuse company time no pay for you!!! Welcome to the new world. Abuse of company time is an old thing. New Gambia!!! Wake up.