Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegeal) – The livelihoods of hundreds of employees nationwide are in danger as a wave of layoffs rips through public and commercial organizations, exacerbating Senegal’s social crisis. Economic difficulty is being made worse by the loss of hundreds of jobs, which is causing severe concerns due to the rising cost of living.

For several months, major institutions such as the Doudou Ndiaye Coumba Rose National Grand Theater, the Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD), and the Ministry of Energy have been conducting mass layoffs. The reasons given vary from economic difficulties to internal restructuring and contract expirations. However, these decisions have been met with strong opposition from workers and labor unions.

At the National Grand Theater, management justified the dismissals by citing “organizational and structural problems” as well as “very difficult economic conditions.” A proposal for a negotiated departure was offered to employees but was ultimately rejected.

The situation at the Autonomous Port of Dakar has been even more severe. According to Abdoul Ndiaye, a representative of the port workers’ union, “more than 700 young people have been dismissed. In reality, 781 people are now jobless.” This issue was highlighted during a large gathering of trade unions, who described it as a “social tragedy.”

Other institutions, such as the Priority Investment Guarantee Fund (FONGIP), have also terminated several employees.

The Ministry of Energy, Petroleum, and Mines was not spared either, with 44 layoffs recorded in October.

Minister Birame Soulèye Diop explained that these dismissals stemmed from financial mismanagement: “My predecessors signed contracts with employees whose salaries were paid from a special fund intended for other expenses. In 2023, 1.052 billion CFA francs were spent on these hires, far exceeding the available budget.”

The dismissed agents of the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum, and Mines have intensified their struggle against Minister Birame Souleye Diop, accusing him of sticking to an austerity position and justifying contract termination under administrative law, while claiming it falls under labor law, according to NGO Afrikajom Center president Alioune Tine.

To encourage employees who wish to leave, some organizations, like the National Road Safety Agency (ANASER) and the Deposit and Consignment Fund (CDC), have implemented social plans.

However, the crisis is not limited to the formal sector.

The government’s suspension of construction projects in Dakar and Thiès has left thousands of masons, metalworkers, and laborers without jobs, plunging entire families into economic distress.

With no income, some workers are falling into debt, while others are attempting to transition into alternative trades.

The sudden halt in construction has also affected related businesses, such as building material suppliers and sand and cement transporters.

Real estate developers and construction site owners have voiced concerns over massive financial losses. If the situation continues, it could cripple the construction industry, a vital pillar of Senegal’s economy. As the saying goes, “When the construction sector thrives, everything thrives.”

As layoffs persist, workers and labor unions are calling for urgent measures to mitigate the social and economic impact. In an already challenging economic climate, the deepening employment crisis poses a serious threat to the country’s social stability.