By Mariatou Ngum
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE), in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation and Development (GIZ), last week concluded a 5-day nationwide sensitisation and awareness raising on the National Employment Policy and Action Plan 2022-2026 and the National Labour Act 2023.
The MoTIE delegation led by Mr. Fabba Jammeh, Director of the Employment Directorate, toured the length and breadth of the country and met with governors, community leaders, women, and youths in the regions to highlight the significance of these important documents.
The team held their first meetings in the Lower River Region (LRR), North Bank Region (NBR), and Central River Region (CRR) - North and South. All the meetings were graced by governors and deputy governors of the respective regions.
The Director of the Employment Directorate of the Ministry of Trade, Mr Fabba Jammeh, on behalf of the Minister of Trade, Hon. Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, handed over the Employment Policy and Labour Act documents to the governors.
At a meeting held in CRR North, Governor Ousman Bah commended His Excellency President Adama Barrow and his government for creating an enabling environment for partners and citizens to operate in a conducive environment.
“As we know in CRR a foundation stone was laid last year for a skills training centre; and in CRR South, a foundation stone was laid for Agric-business training,” he said.
According to him, this is to equip the youths with the required skills to contribute maximally to the well-being and development of the country.
Governor Bah thanked the Ministry of Trade for taking such a bold step and decision to bring this very important activity to the grassroots.
In the Upper River Region (URR), Governor Samba Bah commended the Ministry and said the documents are key, making reference to government’s plan to create 150,000 jobs for young people in a particular period.
“It is always apt and prudent for us to have a National Employment Policy that will be known to everybody and at the same time having a Labour Act will help people know what is supposed to be done if employed,” he said.
He urged the Ministry of Trade to have personnel in all the regions that will help address the issues of unemployment so that at least any time people have a problem concerning employment they will know where to go. Mr. Fabba Jammeh, Director of Employment, on behalf of the Trade Minister and the Permanent Secretary, commended GIZ for supporting the sensitisation campaign.
He finally commended the governors, women, and youths in the regions for their support throughout the awareness raising for their participation.
