During the ongoing Saudi-African Economic Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor Dr. Abdullah Abu Thnain signed four agreements with The Gambia to recruit Gambian public and domestic workers.

“The agreements aim to set a framework for cooperation and to regulate the process of recruiting professional and domestic workers between the governments of Saudi Arabia and The Gambia,” according to Saudi official sources. According to our sources, the signed agreement also aims to ensure the legal recruitment of workers to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, protect the rights of workers and employers, monitor the implementation of these agreements, and ensure their application in an optimal way that serves the interests of all parties.

In 2018, Hamat Bah, The Gambia’s Tourism and Culture Minister, revealed the existence of an unsigned Mou with 9 articles for the purpose of recruiting and sending Gambians to Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry. Many Gambians, however, were unconvinced by Hamat Bah’s announcement.

Critics of Hamat Bah’s Mou condemned the draft agreement, believing that The Gambia’s government was well aware of the fate that awaited Gambians willing to enter the Saudi deal Hamat Bah signed. The critics’ voices were heard loud and clear in Banjul as compelling evidence of hostile and degrading treatment of Gambians in the Middle East emerged.

Many of these Gambians were beaten, raped, mutilated, and humiliated by Saudis. Others told harrowing stories about their experiences and encounters while working in the Middle East.

In response to the general outcry, Hamat Bah stated that Gambian citizens will have documents showing the negotiated terms of payment, residence, and conditions of service under a “contractual agreement” negotiated by Justice and Labour under the Office of the President, while it will be the responsibility of the government of The Gambia to recruit the right people to serve in various capacities in Saudi Arabia.

While questions about the role of key ministries such as Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment remained unanswered in the 2018 agreement, the Gambian side was represented at the Riyad signing on Friday by President Adama Barrow’s Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof.

Following the signing on Friday, a joint Gambia-Saudi technical committee will be formed to oversee implementation and to monitor all obstacles and difficulties, as well as to coordinate efforts to resolve them.

Saudi Arabia has not wavered in its efforts to recruit domestic and professional workers to the Saudi labor market, as well as to strengthen economic relations with African countries in recent years. As a result, Saudi Arabia and Tanzania have signed a similar agreement to The Gambia.