National staff working for companies, such as insurance firms, have been complaining about being locked out from accessing their work after voicing their concerns to management.
These employees seek fair treatment alongside the international staff since they all operate under the same umbrella known as East Africa, of which South Sudan is a part. Almost all international insurance companies are mistreating South Sudanese nationals.
In 2016, a similar incident occurred involving a national staff member working as a financial advisor for Britam Insurance Company.
This employee was only entitled to commission payments as per the company policy, but after generating business for NPA staff medical insurance and the Plan International organization, a portion of the commission was withheld by the company. Consequently, the company quickly terminated the national staff member, seemingly to avoid accountability for the funds owed.
The question arises: why do insurance companies exploit nationals and threaten them with intimidation, leaving them with no rights to reclaim what has been taken? Foreigners in South Sudan often enjoy more constitutional rights than nationals.
They are permitted to open NGOs and undertake tasks that should be conducted by nationals due to their perceived expertise, even if they possess equivalent qualifications.
Many foreign companies, including international insurance firms, banks, and telecommunications companies, mistreat nationals while employing foreign workers—often paying them significantly more than their South Sudanese counterparts.
These companies hire national staff only to exploit them financially and terminate their contracts when the staff highlight issues or seek redress. Additionally, international organizations are notorious for paying different salaries for the same roles.
This disparity can be attributed to some government officials, who are complicit in protecting foreign companies, thus allowing them to oppress South Sudanese nationals.
Despite many organizations and companies operating in South Sudan, many nationals remain unemployed.
The Ministry of Labor appears ineffective in addressing employment issues within the country. Both state and national levels of the Ministry are plagued by kickbacks, which undermines their ability to seriously address the mistreatment of national staff.
According to the Labor Act of 2017, Chapter II, Section 3 defines discrimination as any distinction, exclusion, or preference that nullifies or impairs equality of opportunity or treatment in employment based on specific grounds. However, corruption in this country means that employment rules are often ignored.
In contrast, countries like Kenya and Uganda promote inclusivity by stating, “there is no work that a Kenyan citizen cannot do,” emphasizing that individuals should have opportunities to learn, regardless of their prior experience.
Tribalism also exacerbates the recruitment process in these organizations, as hiring often depends on personal connections rather than qualifications. The Ministry of Labor must prioritize the interests of the people and work to address the mistreatment of South Sudanese nationals.
Any staff who face such mistreatment from foreign companies should report their cases to the Ministry of Labor, and the courts must take action against those found at fault.
God Protect South Sudan
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