Workers Day

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

3 May 2011

editorial

Workers from both public and private sectors as usual gathered on Sunday at the Independence Stadium to commemorate another International Workers day, popularly known as May Day. All over the world, May Day is set aside for workers of all categories to reflect on their achievements and constraints at their respective workplaces. It is also a moment of reflection and a time to pay homage to those courageous men and women who served humanity and placed their lives on the line in their struggle to put an end to exploitation and guarantee that workers rights are protected.

The significance of May Day cannot be over-emphasised. It started in 1884 when the Federation of Organised Trade and Labour Unions passed a resolution stating that eight hours would constitute a legal day’s work. Since then, every 1st of May has been set aside to commemorate the historic struggle of working people throughout the world. As workers, we must recognise and commemorate May Day not only for its historical significance, but also as a time to ponder on issues affecting the working class today, particularly at the grassroots. We therefore wish to seize this occasion to wish our colleagues in the working fraternity a happy celebration and hope that it would open up more windows of opportunities for all workers in their respective fields.

Unlike many countries where the day is marked by workers protests demanding an end to exploitation and injustice at work, the constant euphoria and enthusiasm that always characterise the Independence Stadium when May Day comes, as our workers come together not as an angry, exploited class, but as happy people out to rejoice with each other, illuminates the conducive environment engendered by the dynamic leadership of President Jammeh, that guarantees favourable working conditions in the country. The fact that the occasion is always a moment of joy and jubilation for our workers shows that The Gambia is among the few countries where working conditions are in conformity with the rights of labour.

As the dust of the May Day celebrations settle down, it is therefore imperative that our working class be also reminded that the conditions that make it possible to commemorate the day in such a magnitude have been the product of a responsible government headed by a dynamic leader whose ambition is to transform this country into a citadel of development, a leader who cherishes the principles of accountability, transparency and collective growth and progress.

As the country heads to another critical moment in the annals of our history, the working class should realise that the country is blessed with a government that has at the core of its governance agenda, the fulfillment of the needs and aspirations of the people particularly the working class. Strengthening loyalty to that government will produce desirable results in the achievements of our common good.

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