Over 700 staff who were transferred from the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) to Alport Banjul under the 30-year concession deal with Turkey’s Albayrak Group have submitted a petition paper with 28-day ultimatum to the Managing Director of GPA, Ousman Jobarteh, demanding the full implementation of agreed transfer conditions less they take industrial action.
They have delivered a signed petition to management expressing dissatisfaction with the transfer and raising concerns that agreed staff welfare provisions have not been fulfilled since the transition.
Adama Jatta, president of the staff association, said they were promised key leadership roles for Gambian nationals, specifically the Head of Human Resources and Deputy Chief Executive Officer positions, with substantive decision-making authority.
According to her, these commitments have not been adequately fulfilled, noting that the staff had outlined several grievances since Alport assumed responsibility for salary administration.
“These include concerns over salary payments, handling of sick leave, lack of a clear 2026 budget framework, absence of promotion and succession plans for Gambian employees, and restrictions on staff loans and benefits,” she noted.
She further underscored that additional concerns raised include the failure to implement the State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) salary structure, lack of comprehensive HR policies, and reported threats of salary deductions affecting staff pursuing local studies.
She emphasised that the transfer process was incomplete at the time of implementation, leaving employees to bear the consequences of unresolved administrative and contractual issues.
She called for the full transfer of all human resource responsibilities, including salary payments, back to GPA, or a complete reversal of their transfer to Alport.
Pending resolution
Adama Jatta stated that they would only take operational instructions from Alport, forgo overtime payments, and restrict their work to the statutory 48-hour work week as stipulated under the Labour Act 2023.
She explained that no written assurances will be accepted, insisting instead on the full implementation of all agreed terms within the notice period.
The petition has been copied to the Office of the President, the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (MOWTI), the SOE Commission, the National Assembly, and the Department of Labour.
The workers warned that failure to meet their demands within 28 days will result in a sit-down strike, potentially disrupting port operations.
Ousman Jobarteh, Managing Director of GPA, received the petition and reaffirmed his office’s commitment to addressing the welfare of the staff.
