Annual report on the Gambia / Colonial Office.

Date:
[1947]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Gambia / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/62 (page 8)
    substantial rise in the cost of living. Prices of essential goods continued to increase, causing hardship, especially among the lower paid workers. The price of certain items of food is controlled and a Maximum Price Order is applied to all imported goods, but the controls are rendered ineffective by the prevalence of petty trading and bargaining. Rents constitute a formidable element in the budgets of the poorer classes and, in Bathurst, are out of all proportion to the type of accommodation provided. The high level of rents results from the scarcity of houses and is aggravated by the influx of seasonal labour. So great is the demand for accommodation that landlords charge as much as 105. to 15s. per month for one small room. Revised measures for control are being considered. LABOUR DISPUTES There was only one dispute during the year. The headmen and labourers employed by the Public Utilities Department on the Bathurst Drainage Scheme stopped work, claiming that the minimum wage was insufficient in view of the exceptional nature of their employment, necessitating work in deep mud. The Labour Department was called in to deal with the complaint. It was held that the claim was justified and the men resumed work after one day’s stoppage when the minimum wage had been raised. The freedom from disputes enjoyed during the year is in part attributed to the Labour Department’s policy of encouraging employers and employees to give ready vent to their grievances. LEGISLATION No labour legislation, other than the amendment of the Minimum Wage Order, was enacted during the year. Legislation is already in existence covering the protection of young persons and the regulation of night work, employment of women, factory inspection and workmen’s compensation. The Trade Union Ordinance gives full protection to the trade unions, and arbitration machinery is provided for the settlement of disputes. The question of wage-fixing machinery is being discussed, and a Wages Council was proposed for the distributive and allied trades and a Joint Council on Whitley Council lines for Government departments. There is no social insurance scheme but established employees of Government are entitled to sick pay, free medical attendance and pension on retirement. TRADE UNIONS There are three registered trade unions—the Bathurst Trade Union, the Gambia Labour Union, and the Gambia River Trade and Commer¬ cial Workers’ Union. Membership increased during the year but the unions lack funds, and it is extremely difficult to organise a satisfactory system for collecting contributions. An attempt was made to bring about an amalgamation but without much success. Discussions among the officials continue. The Labour Officer has arranged classes and lectures for trade union members with the help of the British Council, which exhibits films illustrating the work of trade unions in the United Kingdom.