By Assan Bah
The 33 remaining Gambian circular migrant workers in Spain have been urged to return home following the expiration of their initial contracts, amid concerns that absconding could jeopardize a pilot labor migration program.
These workers were part of a group of 39 young Gambians who departed for Spain in June and July 2025 to work seasonally in agriculture, including farms, fields, and plantations. They were expected to return to the Gambia after their three-month contracts and await potential recall for subsequent cycles over a four-year period.
“We expected them to work for three months, then return to the Gambia,” Babucarr O. Joof, outgoing Minister of Trade, Regional Integration, and Employment, told journalists on Friday. He warned that the 33 absconders could threaten the continuation of the program, which was designed to provide safe, legal migration pathways for Gambian youth.
Joof said another batch of 50 workers is being processed for departure to Spain, but the scheme’s credibility is at risk if the first group fails to honor its agreements. “These 33 are still expected to remain faithful to their contracts with the Gambia government, their employers in Spain, and the people of the Gambia,” he said.
The minister added that while these workers were initially provided with passports and free air tickets for their return, they will now be required to cover their own travel expenses if they fail to return voluntarily. “Instead of returning on a free ticket, now they are required to pay their tickets back home,” he said.
Joof described the scheme as a model for labor mobility that has worked successfully in other countries, including Senegal. He emphasized that the program was intended to provide an alternative to risky irregular migration and to offer Gambian youth stable, legally sanctioned work opportunities abroad.
“Migration is inevitable. Labour moves naturally, and this scheme is designed to give Gambians a safe pathway to work while maintaining ties to their country,” Joof said.
He warned that failure to comply could have “far-reaching consequences” for future participants and undermine a program intended to benefit hundreds of families in the Gambia. Spanish authorities, the European Union, and the Gambian government will continue efforts to locate the absconding workers and, if necessary, repatriate them.
Principal Labour Officer Ousman Sanneh provided details on conditions for the migrants, noting that accommodation was free, transportation provided, and workers allowed to cook and live independently. He also clarified that work hours were eight per day and recreational activities permitted on weekends. Some workers reportedly delayed their return due to pending residency permits or contractual misunderstandings, which the ministry pledged to investigate.
The ministry emphasized that workers received pre-departure training and guidance on their rights and responsibilities, and any absconding not only breaches the agreements but risks terminating the program prematurely.
“Those whose children are in Spain and have decided not to return should understand that we are risking spoiling a great opportunity for many Gambian families,” Joof said, urging compliance and stressing the government’s commitment to ensuring the program’s continuation.
