 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Jan 2013 : 22:02:01
|
Gambia's public sector to have four-day working week
BANJUL (Reuters) - Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has decreed a four-day working week for public officials, making Friday a day of rest to allow residents in the small West African state more time for prayer and agriculture.
Jammeh said in statement the decision was made in light of demand from the general public. The shorter working week will take effect from February 1.
Read full story
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2013 : 22:31:58
|
| Could loosely be called Gardening Leave I suppose. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
 |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2013 : 09:01:45
|
More time to work on the president's farms.
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2013 : 10:39:55
|
Gov’t announces four-day working week
Daily Observer: Published on Monday, January 21, 2013
The government of The Gambia has issued an executive decision to change the official government working hours and days with effect from 1st February, 2013.
A media release from the State House states that the new work days and times will be Mondays to Thursdays from 08:00am to 06:00pm and Fridays will henceforth become rest and prayer days alongside Saturdays and Sundays.
Below is the full text of the release
The Office of the President hereby announces to the general public that His Excellency, the president of the Republic, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh in consultation with Cabinet and giving due consideration to public demand, has issued an executive decision to change the official government working hours and days with effect from 1st February , 2013.
The new work days and times will be Mondays to Thursdays from 08:00am to 06:00pm. Fridays will henceforth become rest and prayer days alongside Saturdays and Sundays. Schools and banks and all affected institutions are free to work on Saturdays to compensate for the Fridays which will now become non-working days.
This new arrangement will allow Gambians to devote more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture- going back to the land and grow what we eat and eat what we grow, for a healthy and wealthy nation.
Source: Daily Observer |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2013 : 12:19:40
|
Telling it as we see it
The Point Editorial: Published Monday, January 21, 2013
The move by the government to change the official government working days and hours came out of the blue. Naturally, it has generated a lot of reactions across the country.
The government press release said President Yahya Jammeh in consultation with Cabinet and giving due consideration to public demands has issued the executive decision to make the changes.
In any case, in recent weeks, we have seen the Government announce a new decision - just to go back and rescind it – we recall the decision on the operations of the forex market, and the latest was related to the buying and selling of groundnuts by our poor farmers.
We hope the same will not happen, in the next few weeks, since these all show undue haste, or not giving enough thought to issues before making crucial decisions, and a lack of sufficient consultations with all relevant stakeholders in these matters of great national importance.
Moreover, the Government claims that the decision was taken in response to public demand. Yet we are not aware of any public calls for such!
Indeed, in our view, not sufficient reasons or explanations have been advanced for the changes, and we are not convinced by the reasons given for the change, as stated in the government release.
In fact, to talk about Friday being a rest and prayer day, and in the same breathe talk about going back to the land – meaning it will be a day or opportunity for Gambians to do farming (itself very hard work) is a big contradiction!
What about the reference to Gambians having more time for “social activities”. We are aware that in some African countries, they have more days to go partying 24/7, and people spend all day partying and enjoying themselves all night long over the long week-ends.
Thus, we risk giving Gambians more time to engage in idleness and merry-making, instead of being absorbed in serious work – with Vision 2020 just seven years away.
Of course, there is a positive side too – the fact that the Government will be able to save expenditure on fuel for government vehicles and the misuse of government vehicles, which are seen all over the place, night and day, including weekends when government business is supposed to be on break.
Actually, when the new Government regulation for the public sector was announced on both GRTS radio and television, most people could not comprehend what the whole issue was about; hence they started to make calls here and there, just to make sure that what they heard was the right thing.
It is our position that the Office of the President should have done more consultations, beyond the Cabinet, and even involved the National Assembly, prior to making such important changes, which will have a big impact on the lives of Gambians and all persons resident in the country.
In fact, such a matter required a National Debate or Dialogue.
“A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.”Oscar Wilde
Source: The Point |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2013 : 18:10:30
|
ANNOUNCEMENT ON CHANGE OF THE WORKING HOURS AND DAYS IS IT VIABLE?
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Monday, 21 January 2013
According to the Press Release issued by the Office of the President, the official working days shall be from Monday to Thursday and the official working hours shall be from 8 am to 6 pm. Schools, Banks and other affected institutions may operate on Saturdays. This executive order is said to have been issued after consultation with Cabinet and would come into effect on 1 February 2013. It is also claimed that it is a by-product of a Public demand. Foroyaa will do a Vox Pop to find out what our readers say on the arrangement.
Foroyaa is of the view that this is too major a decision to be taken without setting up a Commission to conduct proper investigation into the merits or otherwise of changing the Official working hours. The decision has legal, professional, Infrastructural, social, business and administrative implications.
First and foremost, every Government needs to fix working time that would equate working hours with fair income as well as give to workers enough time to balance service to the people with leisure and the fulfillment of social responsibilities.
The government needed to give a commission the mandate to look into the implications of changing the working days and time on all those who depend on employment income.
Today, many people who are employed have to travel from a distance to get to and from work. Public transport is not available. Hence they depend on a transport network which has no time schedule. Hence people stand for hours to wait to get transport to go to work and return home. Our impression is that currently, many people go to work in the morning and arrive home late in the evening. In countries that aim to ensure punctuality in reaching work places transport networks are created that ensure timely departure of vehicles to reach the working places on time.
Hence the first problem the government needed to tackle is lateness. This may be done by ensuring the availability of regular transport services to take people to work.
Secondly the starting hour for the delivery of services could have been extended to 9 O'clock in the morning. In this way parents would ensure that their children are on their way to school, while they are on their way to work by 8 am enabling all to arrive at their destination before 9 am. This is the first point.
Thirdly, in most countries, the normal number of hours to work in a week is 40 hours. In short, the 40 hour week, developed as a Union demand in industrialized countries is a by-product of the division of the 24 hours into three parts that is, 8 hours for sleep, 8 hours for work and 8 hours for leisure and fulfillment of social responsibilities.
The President and the Cabinet chose to recommend for people to work for ten hours from Monday to Thursday. When would people get up to go to work in the morning in the absence of a reliable transport network? When will people reach home after closing at 6pm?
Some of the findings we have made so far reveals that the working hours before were from 8 am to 5 pm. However, as people moved from Banjul to the Serekunda end the consequential traffic congestion encouraged the authorities to shorten the closing time to 4 pm to enable people to reach home before dark. If the government wants to make changes it should investigate what led to the change before and why the new initiative is more viable.
Foroyaa will engage in broad consultation and bring to the notice of the readers all the implications of the policy so that its viability could be properly addressed. Notwithstanding this we strongly recommend the establishment of a Commission to study the implications before implementation.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2013 : 08:53:00
|
VOICE OF PEOPLE ON THE FOUR WORKING DAYS AND HOURS
by Madiba Singhateh
Published on Tuesday, 22 January 2013
According to the press release issued by the Office of the President, the official working days shall be from 8am to 6pm; and schools, banks and other affected institutions may operate on Saturdays to augment the time lost.
After the press release this reporter engaged in a voice pop for people to express their opinion on the change of working days to four and the increment of working hours.
Mr.Lamin Trawally, a businessman said, now they have to arrive at their homes late, and they would not have time for their families too.
Trawally said if they want that to happen, it has to coincide with salaries too, but this he said does not commensurate with the salaries.
He added that it would be very difficult because drivers were asking for payment of two fares, now they would ask for three fares, especially coming from Banjul at night.
Mr. Trawally argued if the objective is in respect of the Friday prayers, what about magrib prayers? If congestion occurs people will be in the street up to the magrib prayers four days in the week. Moreover, workers would have to take a break at 2pm and 5pm for prayers.
"Infact they should seek people's opinion regarding the Friday prayers argued Trawally.
Trawally said the cabinet should not only decide but should also scrutinize and the judiciary should also be involved.
Trawally opined that the 8hrs working period should be maintained instead of the 10 hrs because it is impractical.
Mr. Abass Bangura said all Gambians should know by now what is happening in the Gambia and what should happen.
"Many people who are working do not have their own vehicles, how do you expect them to reach home early when they close late from work?" He asked.
Mr. Bangura asked, before increasing working hours, how about people's welfare?
Mr. Ebrima Marie also expressing his opinion on this matter said that he is surprised to hear such changes because he said what he normally hears is that people work from 9am-5pm but from 8am-5pm, he said he has never heard of that.
He said what is more interesting is that for people to work for four-working days only is very strange to him.
Mr. Marie, a civil servant said: "Well here is Gambia, we wake up everyday to do other things.
When asked how he sees the whole issue, he said he expects government to inform people and even have a national forum where issues such as this would be discussed rather than announcing them like that from the blue.
Mr. Marie went on to question the credibility of those who he said are there only to implement things rather than looking at the implications decisions have on the population. Marie said he does not appreciate this method of doing things, because if they have to work from Monday from 8am-6pm, what about those doing two jobs to make ends meet. According to him they know that there are others who are doing two jobs. He said if they close by 6pm, how can they go to their other working place? He said this has to be properly looked into.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2013 : 11:51:26
|
While we are living in the Global world and the world business is cooperating day by day we simply can’t afford to lose a single day to the rest of the world.
Maybe by reducing the working hours may not be a bad idea and am not opposing a resting day but like this is not a good point.
Let’s farmer be a farmer and business be a business, and if it’s the matter of the religion. After praying (a Muslim/Christian or none)everyone should go back to their work, there is time for work and time for resting
Allah SWT make it clear In the Sura 78: 9-11
|
|
|
|
toubab1020
12309 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2013 : 13:03:04
|
Great Observations mbay 
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2013 : 20:14:24
|
VOX POP ON CHANGE OF WORKING DAYS AND HOURS
BY SAMBA BAH
Published on Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Following the announcement by the office of the president of the change in working days and hours that is to take effect from the 1 February 2013, the Foroyaa has been conducting a 'Vox Pop' on the issue to get the opinions of the members of the general public on the advantages and disadvantages of such an executive order. In this edition, the views of a school head, teacher and students are sought on how this change is going to impact on teaching and learning in school.
According to a principal of a secondary school in Region One, the recently announced change of working days and hours starting from Mondays to Thursday 8.am to 6.pm is absolutely strange to him. He said this new schedule, if implemented, will affect both the students and staff of his school, due to the fact that the compulsory contact hours with the students will not be met. He said for the teachers and staff to relax on Friday and then resume on Saturday and again relax on Sunday will not be reasonable for the teachers who want the weekend for themselves. He predicts poor performance on the part of teachers if they are forced to have Fridays off and go to school on Saturdays and rest again on Sundays. "The consequence of this as you all know is poor results in the academic performance of students," warned the school head master.
He also noted that the Afternoon Shifts in the schools are going to be more seriously affected by this new change of learning days because they utilize Saturday to attend weekend study classes due to the insufficiency of the contact hours during the working week which they try to recover during the weekends.
He said all the students that commute especially those in Afternoon shift who close at 6pm would be required to struggle with the other workers for scarce transports.
"Even under this present situation with the scarcity of public transports, the teachers and children do not reach their homes until very late. I wonder with this new time schedule what time they will come home very tired, eat, prepare for the next school day and retire in bed? What productivity and performance do you expect from this" he asked.
The school head also asked "What security would there be for young female students in Afternoon Shift who leave in far-off settlements without street lights who would arrive home until after 8pm?"
Another aspect which the school head identifies as another disadvantage to teachers in this new arrangement is that they will be required to work for more hours than other workers without a concomitant salary increase.
He called on the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to prevail on the executive to revisit and rescind this new working days and hours as it is not favourable to teachers and students in pursuit of efficient teaching and acquiring education.
A school teacher in Region One, for his part, explained that it is going to be very difficult for them because they will have to change their contact hours with the students and then their weekend study classes which are meant for tutorials or to go over the lessons learnt during the preceding week. "I am also of the conviction that this change of working days and hours if it comes into effect will not help both the teachers and students alike, because there will always be a low turnout of students and teachers on Saturdays," he said.
He also reiterated the clash of the closing time of both the workers and students in Afternoon Shift which will create a lot of difficulties for both of them.
"Since decisions are taken by governments to facilitate certain processes that make life easy for the people, I am informing the government that this move if it is taken with the intention of serving the best interest of the Gambian people will instead realize the very opposite of what is intended," said the teacher.
He added "We have been going to school and closing on time on Fridays to attend 'Jumah' prayers. In fact it is easier for some of us to prepare and attend 'Jumah' when we are out at work than to go to the mosque from our homes," the teacher concluded.
Fatou Jobe, a student of Gambia Senior Secondary School in Banjul, for her part, said if the new working days and hours are put into effect, it will not only affect the students but their teachers as well because the teachers have always been complaining about the insufficient contact hours which is the reason why they conduct extramural classes in the weekend. "So given this situation, if a day is to be reduced it will affect us badly," she said.
She added that making Friday a non-working day will also affect businesses and people who engage in financial transactions as banks do close operations during the period of the prayers and re-open after that for people to receive or deposit money.
She concluded by appealing to government to reconsider this decision and allow the status quo to continue.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
dbaldeh
USA
934 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2013 : 01:26:43
|
Is anybody surprise about Jammeh's announcement on the four day work week? Did anyone notice any trend?
Oh yes, we did... it is the typical Jammeh Syndrome... anytime he makes blunders on policy and or governing he tries to be creative or being a great visionary...
Does he realized the cost of closing the government for 36 days in a year? Does he understand the economic impact of closing government for this long and business coming to a halt?
Where is the public demand for four working days? Anybody familiar with Gambian workers especially in government offices knows that Gambians sit idle for half of their work days doing nothing or being unproductive... people leave the offices and idle around because they are not paid hourly they are paid monthly.
No matter how many hours you work in a month you still receive the same monthly salary... so what's the point in shortening the work day that is already too unproductive?
Talk about giving the people more time to pray or agriculture... PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!
Any Gambian economist out there who are interested in talking about the real numbers and economic impact?
If you know anybody who would like to speak on this subject please send us their details in private mail. We can be reached at editor@gainako.com
Thanks
|
Baldeh,
"Be the change you want to see in the world" Ghandi
Visit http://www.gainako.com for your daily news and politics |
Edited by - dbaldeh on 24 Jan 2013 01:29:05 |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2013 : 12:14:16
|
Workers Confederation urges halt to new Govt. working days, hours
The point: Published on Monday, January 28, 2013
The Gambia Workers Confederation (GWC) has urged the Government of the Gambia to halt its plans to change the official government working hours and days, effective 1st February 2013 in order not to kill The Gambia’s standard social service hours and days of work.
In a statement issued by the GWC and signed by its Executive Secretary General, Pa Modou Faal, the GWC said as an organized labour representative, they are obliged to request for the halting of the Executive Orders scheduled to commence on 1st February 2013 by the Gambia Government.
“It is our belief that it is an impromptu executive order which needs a sober reflection and time for a change of this nature,” the GWC said.
According to the GWC, the present five or six working days per week of eight hours a day based on International Standards has been agreed, accepted and adopted by the world of work.
It cited the International Labour Organization ILO which is the most specialised agency of the United Nations, and of which The Gambia is a member state, and also the fact that this country has ratified Convention No 87 and 98 (relating to the Right to Organise and to join Trade Unions of their choice and to Bargain Collectively, etc.)
“We therefore call for decent work country programme and request the Government to dialogue with its social partners on the above subject,” it added.
Read Full Story |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 00:26:12
|
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Gambia's public sector to have four-day working week
BANJUL (Reuters) - Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has decreed a four-day working week for public officials, making Friday a day of rest to allow residents in the small West African state more time for prayer and agriculture.
Jammeh said in statement the decision was made in light of demand from the general public. The shorter working week will take effect from February 1.
Read full story
Demand from which general public? |
Karamba |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 08:34:45
|
IS THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE FRIDAY A NON WORKING DAY IN FAVOUR OF ISLAM OR NOT?
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Monday, 28 January 2013
Foroyaa wishes to tell the Gambian people that declaring Friday a non working day has nothing to do with promoting Islamic values. It is just another arbitrary decision that has been taken by the executive without any proper consultation. Now the apologists of the executive will take it up and try to justify the decision as a promotion of the Islamic faith.
Since the role of Foroyaa is to combat all mystification and misinformation we are duty bound to tell the Gambian people that the decision to extend the working day by two hours from Monday to Thursday in order to have Friday free should have been done after a proper evaluation of its impact on productivity and on families and communities. Since the state authorities and their apologists are relying on the religious justification for the decision we have no other choice but to challenge their misconception from the same angle.
First and foremost, genuine Islamic Scholars would tell you that unlike Judaism Islam has no Sabbath. Hence there is no day in Islam that one calls a non working Islamic day. There are only feasts which could fall on any day.
Secondly, Friday to Muslims should not be equated to Sunday in Christianity. In Islam the five daily prayers is what embodies a pillar of faith and that is an everyday affair. No single day is set aside for the five daily prayers. Hence to give a Muslim a whole day on Friday to attend only one Congregational prayer which he used to attend anyway by closing at 12.30 and have the whole weekend free while keeping him in office for both the 2pm and 5pm prayers for four days away from his or her children and Community where he used to perform 5pm Congregation prayer, and still claim that you are making him or her to perform his religious obligations better is an experiment with bad logic and faulty reasoning. Let the Government tell us another reason for its decision on the working days other than a religious justification.
The Gambian people should bear in mind that the religious tolerance that is in the Gambia did not arise from governments. Even the first head of state was at one time a Christian and converted only after being elected by a largely Muslim electorate. Banjul has had both Mayors and Councillors of Muslim and Christian origin.
Foroyaa advocates for a state that has its hands off religion and religious leaders, a state whose leaders would not use religion as a tool for maintaining or coming to office but would instead respect and uphold a secular constitution which makes freedom to belong to a religion and perform religious rites a fundamental right of all citizens that is protected by law and should be enforced by the courts regardless of whether the judge is of Christian origin or not.
The greatest tragedy in modern times as we have seen in Mali is looters of state treasuries reinventing themselves as leaders of armies in the name of Islam and take pride in cutting the hands of people without the ability to pay for a day's meal in the name of fighting theft and implementing Shariah. Kings and Presidents who accumulate the sovereign wealth of a people as their own have no moral authority to cut the hands of people who steal chicken to have a day's meal. Their duty is to liberate such a person from poverty.
Foroyaa calls on the executive to free Baba Leigh and leave religious affairs to be handled by the religious scholars who should constructively debate issues to convince each other on the basis of the profundity of their knowledge and the density of their argument. This is the way forward in the relation between the state and religion.
Source: Foroyaa Editorial |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2013 : 12:15:44
|
REFLECTION OF THE NEW WORKING HOURS
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Wednesday, 30 January 2013
A National Debate has unfolded on the new working hours. Since the country has to be governed in accordance with the rule of law many have asked what the law says about the determination of the working hours. This should not be arbitrarily determined.
The powers of the President, the Ministers and public servants are vested by the Constitution and other laws enacted by the National Assembly. The powers to give orders and issue proclamation should be rooted in a law providing for such a decision. The proclamation also does not become lawful order unless it is published in the official gazette.
We have searched the gazettes and do not see any publication of the public notice. We will follow the matter up to get clarity on the legal issue. The official working hours should be statutorily established to be able to give a lawful basis for labour relations.
Some of the views expressed are as follows:
A teacher from the North Bank explained that his family is based in his village and he used to go home after the Friday prayers which was very convenient for him to get transport and would leave his village on Sunday in the afternoon. He lamented that if they have to work on Saturday he would have to leave for home on Thursday and come back on Friday to teach on Saturday and then leave on Saturday to come back on Sunday to teach on Monday. He said the shear cost of travelling and the small time he would be able to spend with his family confirms that he would be disadvantaged by the decision.
Another person living in the coastal road area spoke about the different transport networks that one has to take to get home. She pointed out that with the traffic congestion one would not be able to reach home before the Maghreb prayer if one closes at 6 pm.
Another person who has to take the ferry every working day to come to Banjul explained that if one closes at 6pm it would be impossible to cross with the ferry and arrive at home before 8pm.
Two things could have been responsible for the 8am to 4pm schedule. The first consideration is to give opportunity to commuters in Barra and other villages as well as the Serrekunda and Kombo area. Any schedule that is later than 4pm would be inconvenient to the people living in the areas mentioned. This is the first point.
Secondly, it is internationally accepted and promoted by organized labour that the working day should not exceed 8 hours and that the weekly hours of work should not exceed 40 hours. Any time beyond this becomes overtime. This is why many countries have a working day of 8 hours for five days in the week. In the Gambia, it is because of Friday prayers that it was decided to reduce that 8 hour working day. This is why the closing time on Friday is 12.30pm. In many countries one hour break is given and the workers close at five. In the Gambia since there is no official break time, workers close at 4pm.This is how matters stand.
Source: Foroyaa Editorial
Private sector, business community to operate Fridays
The Point: Published on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Barely a day before the commencement of the new official government working days and hours, the Office of the President last evening announced that the private sector and the business community are exempted from this new working arrangement.
A press release from the presidency said the private sector and business community are, therefore, allowed to open for business on Fridays.
According to the release, this new dispensation includes banks, hospitals and health care providers, Gambia Ports Authority, Gambia Revenue Authority, and the security services, among others.
The release also reminded the public that the new official government working schedule is Mondays to Thursdays from 8:00am to 6:00pm, and lunch break is authorized between 1:30pm to 2:30pm.
The release further urged all permanent secretaries and heads of departments to bring this information to the attention of all staff, and to stringently adhere to the new working arrangements and that staff must come to work and leave at the prescribed times.
It also reminded heads of departments to reinforce the staff attendance register and regularly monitor lateness and absenteeism in line with PSC Regulation 62 and the General Orders (GO) 03112.
Meanwhile, the presidency also announced yesterday that President Yahya Jammeh has reassigned Fatou Ndeye Gaye as Minister of the Environment, Parks and Wildlife with effect from Wednesday 30th January 2013.
A press release also from the presidency said the portfolio of Forestry is now under the purview of the Office of the President.
Source: The Point |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2013 : 14:16:43
|
Allah Never Ask Muslims To Rest On Fridays: So where is the rationale behind the New Working Days?
Daily News Editorial: Publisged on Thursday, January 31, 2013
What is the rationale behind the declaration of Fridays as a rest day for the public sector and others; it can’t be on religious grounds as The Gambia is not s Islamic state. The Presidential decree said the decision was reached after consultations with Cabinet and also due to a popular demand. Daily News wonders where the popular demand comes from as the consultations were only limited to the cabinet a very small fraction of the population.
What is clear is that Allah said in the holly book (Quran) that people work on Fridays as quoted bellow: Therefore government should revisit the decision. It is confusing and was never given a proper thought.
Chapter 62, verse10 of the Holy Quran Allah told Muslims that When the Jumu’ah Salat is ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah by working, and remember Allah much: that you may be successful.
And verse 9 of the same chapter says: O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salat on Friday (Jumu’ah Prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah and Salat , and leave off business and every other thing. That is better for you if you did but know.
So where is the rationale behind the declaration of Friday as a rest day for Gambians?
Thursday the last day for the old working days many people are confused as whether Friday work includes them or not. It even became more confusing when a press release came again from the office of the President, yesterday stressing that Friday is a rest day for workers.
An excerpt reads: Further to our press release in the introduction of the four day working week for the public sector, to be effective from Friday 1st February 2013, the Office of the President wishes to inform the general public that the private sector and the business community are exempted from this new working arrangements and therefore, are allowed to open for business on Fridays. This new dispensation includes banks, hospitals and health care providers, Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), and security services, among others.
A presidential statement is a policy statement. How can there be segregation in such a statement? We all know that Gambia Revenue Authority is a public sector.
Gambia needs more hours to work than to waste. Taking a full day from our work schedules is only making the country lose revenue. Is that not there for all to see? Every minute, hour, or day workers rest is loses for the state.
Unfortunately we are not seeing that. No wonder the numerous public holidays declare for every little thing. We do not think we have time to waste.
I hope government will revisit this decision as it brings more inconvenience than good to the nation. It has already started to make life difficult for the schools. The schools are struggling to meet up the required contact hours, but with this new working hour that will make it even, more problematic.
Come Monday the streets of Banjul and Serekunda will be full and congested with stranded commuters from work to their different homes. This will be so because there is no public transport system in place to take care of the several workers who will close at 6pm when it’s already late. Before at close of work 4pm, people are in Banjul up to 6pm how about when they close at 6pm?
Source: Daily News |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
