By Makutu Manneh
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment said this week that a government labor program with Spain is continuing to operate, as six Gambian workers who completed an earlier contract have returned to the country to begin a second one.
In a press release, the ministry described the initiative, known as the Circular Migration Scheme, as a government-to-government arrangement designed to give young Gambians access to skilled and unskilled work abroad while ensuring they eventually return home to contribute to the country’s development.
The ministry said an initial group of 39 Gambian workers was sent to Spain last year for seasonal fruit-picking work, but that the pilot run was marred by several participants absconding from their contracts. Six workers, however, fulfilled their obligations and returned to The Gambia once their assignments ended, the ministry said.
Officials credited those six for their commitment and said they had since been presented as examples of responsible participation in the program across the country’s regions, including in Banjul and Kanifing.
“On 9th July 2026, these six workers embarked on a second contract in Spain, under improved arrangements that provide them with one-year visas and eligibility to apply for residential permits,” the ministry said in its statement.
According to the release, the workers are expected to complete this second contract and return once again to The Gambia, completing what officials described as the cycle of circular migration the program is intended to establish.
The ministry said the workers’ return and re-enrollment demonstrated the scheme’s potential to create sustainable, legal pathways for Gambians seeking employment abroad. It reiterated its condemnation of any breach of contractual terms by participants and cast the program as a safe, dignified alternative to irregular migration—one that officials said allows young Gambians to gain international work experience, earn income, and return home with new skills to support national development.
“The Ministry expresses its appreciation to the six workers for their boldness and patriotism in flying The Gambia’s flag high. Their example should inspire fellow youth to seize this opportunity and demonstrate that Gambians can be trusted partners in international labour mobility,” the ministry said.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the program through further adjustments intended to improve its sustainability and credibility, and it called on the public to support the initiative and encouraged young Gambians to take advantage of the opportunities it offers.
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