By: Kemo Kanyi
The process of shortlisting applicants for the Spain-Gambia bilateral labour agreement has been completed, according to the Information Minister of The Gambia.
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay gave the update on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on Tuesday. He said that about 10% of the applicants under the agreement were shortlisted.
“The total number of applicants shortlisted was 1,050 out of a total application of 10,111 persons, and 350 persons will be selected for the moment,” he announced.
He said the Ministry of Trade Regional Integration and Employment was responsible for the recruitment and the shortlisting process was rigorously done and that specific criteria were considered for qualifications.
“The applicants shortlisted were those who have submitted the full authentic documents of valid passport for at least one year, certificate of character and medical certificate. The Ministry has also considered those who have experience in agriculture, especially in fruit gardening, with a certificate attached and those married with children,” Dr. Ceesay pointed out.
He added that the age limit considered was between 25 and 50 after the first phase of the interview was conducted.
He further informed that the total number of applicants interviewed was 116 persons, adding that out of which, 39 persons have been selected.
“The certificate of character and the medical certificates of the successful applicants have been submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for translation into Spanish and to be authenticated,” the Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services outlined.
He asserted that all 39 persons selected were all men and the government was informed that a number of women were also selected, but the details of that amount were yet to be received from the Spanish.
“So the Spanish basically did the selection. The interview will continue when we receive more requests from Spanish authorities,” he noted.
The minister also revealed that the interview was conducted by three panels; one in Spain by video, one in the Spanish embassy and the other in Banjul.