Senegal bans layoff of workers

By Borneobulletin

Senegal has issued a statement banning layoffs by companies as the country battles coronavirus pandemic.

The country has also started assisting poor people with food, especially those on its bustling seaside in Dakar.

The government said companies will be forbidden to sack employees during the pandemic, except in cases of gross negligence, starting from April 14.

Firms will also have to choose options such as reducing working hours or opting for shift work instead of temporarily suspending employees.

The government warned in the statement that thousands of workers risk missing out on wages during the pandemic, which could “lead to a cycle of mass redundancies”.

Senegal recorded 265 coronavirus cases to date – with two fatalities – a far cry from soaring infection rates in other parts of the world.

But measures taken to curb the spread of the virus, such as a dusk-to-dawn curfew and a ban on large gatherings, are hitting the economy in the poor country.

The government said there has been a “significant drop” in economic activity in the tourism, transport and catering sectors, for example.

About 40 per cent of Senegal’s roughly 16 million people live on less than USD1.90 a day, according to the World Bank.

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