by Mariatou Ngum
A two-man delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last week paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE) Hon. Baboucarr O. Joof at his office in Banjul.
The Saudi officials, who were on a two-day working visit in the country, met the officials of the Ministry and other stakeholders to discuss modalities of the implementation of the Bilateral Labour Agreement between The Gambia and the Kingdom of Saudia, signed last year, and also to discuss the challenges and the way forward.
Upon receiving the delegation, Minister Joof thanked them for visiting the Ministry. He informed them that the Bilateral Labour Agreement is now a national issue.
“The Agreement affords Gambians the opportunity to go to Saudi Arabia and work either as professionals or as domestic workers but in a formal setting that will ensure their rights and dignity are protected”.
Minister Joof urged his team and the delegation to move faster so that by the anniversary of the signing ceremony of the Agreement they would already have some Gambians in Saudi Arabia. He finally assured the delegates of the full support of the executive.
Dr. Wafi Assiri, Strategic Partnership Director, Musaend of the Kingdom of Saudi expressed delight for being in the country and for the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
While acknowledging that their main purpose of visiting The Gambia is about the implementation of the Bilateral Labour Agreement, the Director said in general their mission is to connect people together not only just for Umra, Hajj or visits, but also opening new opportunities for work and business. “We are proud to be part of this cooperation with your ministry. We are here just to make final touches - to make sure that the system is in place and the recruitment starts soon,” he stated.
The Saudi-Gambia Bilateral Labour Agreement was signed last year on the sidelines of the Africa-Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia. Two specific agreements were signed: the Bilateral Labour Agreement for the Recruitment of Domestic Workers, and the Bilateral Labour Agreement for the Recruitment of Skilled Workers. The Minister of Trade and his counterpart in Saudi Arabia signed the Agreement.
