What is Happening At the Hotels? Gambia Tourism Authority Should Take Note

In the past, hotels in the Gambia had two types of employees. They had permanent staff and seasonal workers. The seasonal workers would be retrenched every six months and would be hired at the beginning of each tourism season which generally commenced in October of each year and ends in March.

They used to comprise Waiters and Waitresses, Accounting Staff and Room Boys and Girls. It hardly affected managers, cooks, security personnel, gardeners and those who are responsible for the security or up keep of the hotels during off season.

Elementary business management principles teach that a properly run business does not run on a hand to mouth basis. Hence such a business cannot depend on new customers to pay wages. Funds for wages are raised before a season starts.

The success of each season is determined by the capacity to recover what is invested as recurrent cost including wages.

In fact a hotel which is operating successfully would make enough profit to be able to retain staff throughout the year.
However the principle of capital accumulation leads Hotel administration to keep a minimum number of staff, whose presence in the hotel during off season is necessary or whose performance or expertise is so vital that one would prefer to retain rather than lose them to another competitor.

The reports we are receiving from hotels indicate that many are retrenching even managerial staff under the pretext that tourists are not coming during the summer.

Foroyaa has it that the redundancy provision of the Labour Act is being exploited by employers who are just in pursuit of maximum profit by spending as little as possible on wages. Many employers are beginning to compel their employees to accept wage cuts, pittance as retention allowance and are even altering provisions of contracts to force the employees to accept lower salaries. Trade unions are doing their best to engage in industrial bargaining, but many cases are now finding their way to the labour department and the industrial tribunal. The delay in getting redress as we have shown in the case of Baba Kanyi, which has lasted for three years, is to the disadvantage of the workers.

It is a stated policy that the tourism industry should provide employment and generate income to the Gambian population. It is important for GTA, the Minister of Tourism and the government at large to know that the employees of the hotel industry are more insecure today than ever before. The trade unions and the labour department are not receiving the clout necessary to ensure the peaceful resolution of disputes between management and the employees. It is urgent to act to save the employees.






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