By: Isatou Sarr and Kemo Kanyi
More than 700 employees transferred from the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) to Alport Banjul Limited under a concession agreement have issued a 28-day ultimatum, warning of a sit-down strike if their agreed terms of transfer are not fully implemented.
In a petition letter addressed to Alport management and copied to: the Office of the President, the Ministry of Works and Transport Infrastructure, the SOE Commission, the National Assembly and the Department of Labour, the staff said their transfer was based on a clear understanding that their existing terms and conditions of service under GPA would be maintained.
The workers, through the President of the Staff Association, Adama Jatta, said several assurances made during the transition have not been honoured since Alport took over salary administration.
They include the appointment of Gambian nationals to key positions such as Head of Human Resources and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, with substantive decision-making authority, rather than ceremonial roles. The staff are now demanding full implementation of that assurance.
They also raised concerns over salary administration, calling for timely and regular payment of salaries, and insisting that any stoppage of pay for sick employees must follow due process.
Additionally, they are demanding the completion of a 2026 budget in line with previous practice, finalisation of HR policies and service rules, and proper implementation of agreed conditions of service.
On staff welfare and career development, the workers are calling for a clear promotion and succession plan for Gambian employees, lifting of restrictions on loans and other benefits, and implementation of the SOE salary structure reportedly agreed prior to the transfer. They also want staff pursuing further education to continue their studies without threats of salary deductions.
The staff further argued that the transfer was carried out before all concession processes were fully concluded, leaving employees to face the consequences of what they describe as unresolved administrative gaps.
They are demanding full disclosure of all staff-related provisions in the concession agreement, as well as clarification of commitments made prior to the transfer.
Their central position is that either all human resource and salary matters be reverted to GPA, or staff be fully returned under GPA administration.
The group has given management 28 days to respond, warning that failure to meet their demands will result in a sit-down strike. In the meantime, they say they will forfeit overtime payments and restrict themselves strictly to the statutory 48-hour working week under the Labour Act.
“We remain committed to our duties, but insist that all agreed terms and conditions of our transfer are respected and implemented without delay,” the letter stated, signed by “all the undersigned staff transferred to Alport Banjul.”
