Gambian workers say no to Jammeh's new work days, hours - Workers, under the Gambia Workers Confederation (GWC), have called on the government not to go ahead with its planned changes in official working hours and days, the GWC said in a statement.
President Yahya Jammeh recently decreed a four-day working week for public officials, making Friday a day of rest to allow residents in the small West African state more time for prayer and agriculture. The shorter working week will take effect from 1 February.
The workers' statement, signed by GWC Executive Secretary, Pa Modou Faal, emphasized that as an organised labour body in the Gambia, they deemed it fitting to ask the government to put on hold the planned changes.
“It is our belief that it is an impromptu executive order which needs a sober reflection and time for a change of this nature,” the statement argued.
The GWC also pointed out that the old work days and hours were developed in line with globally agreed and accepted standards.
“We therefore call for decent work country programme and request the government to dialogue with its social partners on the subject,” GWC stated.
The statement also spoke of the Gambia as a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) whose relevant convention the country had signed.
Pana 28/01/2013