Woodworkers are in difficulty due to Covid-19 and the high raw material costs. They have created a platform to collect complaints from furniture carpenters. Some are still waiting for their share of state aid to deal with the economic and social consequences of the health crisis.
as reported from Dakar, Birahim Toure
In one of the alleys of the popular Medina district of Dakar, Badou, a carpenter by profession, is working on finishing a wooden cabinet. A cabinet that he works to make perfect despite the ridiculous price for which he intends to sell it.
“The corona virus makes us lose a lot of money. Before a cabinet like this, it was for sale for 350,000 CFA francs, now I could sell it maybe 250,000 or 275,000 francs. In the end, we lose.”
The cost of the material, mainly wood, has been very expensive in recent months. “Wood has now become very expensive. For the wood I use, the price has almost doubled, the carpenter Badou explains.
This general observation has prompted Senegalese carpenters to set up a national platform that brings together wood professionals. They face the press and fear for their future and challenge the state.
“We are very tired,” said Lat Deguene Faye, craftsman and general secretary of the platform. We are in a very difficult situation. The first problem is the high price of wood, and that this market is unfortunately located in so-called Senegalese who do what they want and who are not controlled by the state of Senegal. “
The state of Senegal had released a little more than 53 million euros to help artisans affected by Covid-19. Some say they still have not received anything.
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