Fatou Kinteh, the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, has highlighted the government’s commitment to creating 150,000 new jobs by 2027 as part of its national development plan. She emphasized the role of labour migration programs in achieving this goal.
Kinteh praised the efforts of Cruise Gambia, a licensed recruitment agency, in providing job opportunities for young people, particularly women under 36. She revealed that out of 700 job placements facilitated, over 70% were for women.
While acknowledging that many job opportunities in Gulf countries involve domestic work, the minister stressed that these roles offer unemployed women a starting point for earning income and gaining skills. She noted that such employment can help women advance their careers, start small businesses, and improve their livelihoods.
Kinteh also addressed concerns about the risks faced by female migrant workers. She argued that excluding women from these opportunities would amount to discrimination and marginalization. Instead, she called for the implementation of measures to protect women and ensure they can safely access these jobs. She highlighted the government’s adherence to ethical labour migration standards, including protocols established by the International Labour Organization’s Domestic Workers Convention of 2011.
The minister underscored the importance of empowering women to contribute to their families and communities through gainful employment opportunities abroad.
