By Amadou Manjang
Foroyaa is privy to a letter written by Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency indicating that the agency seeks not to renew the contract of over 20 employees who will leave the abattoir by 29 February 2025. The letter is signed by Ebrima AJ Cham, Chairman Board of Directors.
According to the letter, the appointment contract of the employees expired on 31 December 2024, however, they have been extended to two months.
According to Momodou Darboe, Director of Livestock Marketing Agency, they are not renewing the contracts because they want competent staff.
He added that some of the staff that will be laid off occupy irrelevant positions in the abattoir. He said the board reviewed the situation and took a decision. He said the board wants to downsize the staff to improve quality.
He added that those who are laid off can re-apply for the jobs. He said some of the current ones don’t qualify.
He added that the staff have a 12-month contract which has expired and will not be renewed.
One of the affected employees is Saidou Manga.The contract appointment letter seen by Foroyaa indicated that Saidou Manga was employed on 1 July 2019 as an electrician for the company, but there was no date for the end of the contract.
But Manga’s letter does not contain any signature. Manga was employed when the company was called Kanilai Family Farm Ltd, Central Abattoir.
Another letter seen by Foroyaa dated 1 July 2019 indicated the upgraded salary of Saidou Manga, though the letter was not signed. Both letters do not indicate the names of the authority who wrote them.
According to Saidou Manga, they were called and handed in what he refers to as the indirect termination of letters. He added that he was told that he was engaging in illegal connections, but NAWEC did not find any illegal connection when inspecting the abattoir.
DG Darboe denied it, saying there were lots of malpractices that were happening and their investigation shows that illegal connection was taking place. But Manga still maintained his stance that it had never occurred in the Central Abattoir.
Meanwhile, Manga lamented the ‘unfair treatment’ would affect employees, adding that he feeds his family from his meager salary.
He further called on the government to intervene and stop the pending layoff because they are youths who are trying to earn a living. He said that many of the youth are already leaving the country due to unemployment.
He said they were working under difficult conditions without transport fees or medical insurance.
