Gambia Parliament Confirms Agreement With Saudi Arabia Concerning Recruitment Of Gambian Workers

Gambia’s Parliament has ratified the motion on the Agreement for Worker Recruitment in Saudi Arabia to allow Gambians to work legally in the Kingdom.

The motion was presented by the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, Baboucarr Joof.

The agreement, confirmed during Tuesday’s parliamentary session, outlines protections for workers and employers, ensuring that recruitment is done through licensed agencies that follow ethical standards. Employers are not allowed to deduct recruitment costs from Gambian workers’ wages, according to the agreement.

The agreement also requires workers to meet health standards and undergo medical checks in The Gambia.

A joint committee from The Gambia and Saudi Arabia will monitor the agreement’s implementation and address any arising issues.

The joint technical Committee may set up a sub-committee as needed to meet regularly to discuss issues arising from this agreement, Joof added.

While the initiative was widely supported, some parliament members raised concerns about the risks Gambians face working abroad, advising the government to be cautious.

Saudi Arabia has constantly been accused of practising modern slavery, where migrants are treated poorly under the Kafala sponsorship system, a system that ties migrant workers to their employers.

A 2021 Global Slavery Index by Walk Free posited that Saudi Arabia has the highest incidence of modern slavery in the Arab States region. The study found that in a day in Saudi Arabia, about 740,000 individuals were living in modern slavery.

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