Gambian migrant workers travelling to Saudi Arabia for domestic jobs will earn a monthly wage of $200, a senior government official has told the National Assembly’s select committee.

The announcement follows an agreement between the Gambian government and Saudi authorities to facilitate the employment of Gambian workers in the Gulf state.

Modou Secka, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Regional Integration, and Employment, told lawmakers that the agreed wage is exclusive of other benefits such as food, housing, and medical expenses, which will be covered by the Saudi government.

“The government is trying to negotiate for more,” he said.

“That is your take-home pay, and you are not spending anything on food, housing, or medical expenses.”

The deal has sparked widespread criticism, with many Gambians condemning it as exploitative and likening it to “modern-day slavery.”

By Adama Makasuba