By Philip Buda Ladu
Transitional National Member of Parliament has called for tougher action against private companies accused of exploiting national workers.
Juol Nhomngek Daniel, an MP representing Cueibet County, Lakes State, on SPLM-IO ticket, raised a serious, urgent national interest matter of great public concern.
During Tuesday’s sitting, chaired by first deputy speaker Nathaniel Oyet, the legislator raised a point of information in regard to national employees in the private sector.
“It has come to my attention recently when I saw the national employees at two newspapers being unlawfully suspended and sent home, contrary to the labor law of South Sudan,” the MP echoed.
These journalists, who came out boldly to air out their grievances, were demanding appropriate or meaningful pay, similar to the other foreign workers.
According to the dissatisfied journalists, the other foreign workers, often referred to as expatriates, are paid between 2,000 and 2,500 US dollars, while the national workers are paid less than 100 dollars.
City Review English newspaper and its sister Arabic daily Al-Hagiga newspaper are the private sector organizations that have been brought to the spotlight over the numerous complaints of national worker exploitation.
“So these journalists, since July 29, 2024, are still at home, and they have been ordered to hand over all their identity cards until they are called,” MP Juol stated.
“The journalists were just demanding that their grievances be listened to by these companies.”
These media houses are not the only private companies accused of exploiting national employees at the expense of foreign workers.
Juol further informed the House that the same issue was repeated in Cueibet County, where national employees with private health organizations got dismissed without any reason other than demanding the same issue of equal payment.
Feeling concerned and disturbed by the exploitation of national employees by private sector, the legislator stressed that the laws the parliament passes must be deployed to protect the national interest of the local workforce.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, we make laws in this country, and when we are making the laws, the law must punish all persons.”
MP Juol emphasized that he discovered from the employees he interacted with over the matter that military generals are being used by the companies to aid the maltreatment of the national workers.
“What I have seen with these private companies and organizations is that they employ our military generals or daughters of big generals to protect them,” he alleged.
The lawmaker moved to the August House that the minister concerned with employees’ welfare be summoned to the house to answer the continuous mistreatment of local workers by the private sector.
“So I am calling upon this august house to call the minister of labour again because we don’t even need a motion and to be tough on the ministry,” he urged.
“If the ministry is not able, then we have to take action; we need to protect our citizens. This is too much,” Juol reiterated his position on the issue.
Late last month, a section of journalists working with City Review and Al-Hagiga newspapers—sisterly outlets owned by Rak Media Group—laid down tools over low payment compared to their expatriate colleagues.
In a statement obtained by this outlet, they have demanded better pay in light of economic hardship and currency instability.
However, the row between the management of City Review newspaper and its protesting journalists intensified, with the management demanding an apology from the journalists over alleged defamation claims.
The journalists earlier stated that expatriate editorial staff earn up to $2,500 per month, including benefits like free accommodation, transport, air tickets, airtime, and meals, while the highest-paid local journalists receive less than $100 per month in local currency.
The journalists said they had previously notified the management in writing about the need for salary increases, but their requests were met with a bucket of intimidation instead.
In response, the company’s legal counsel, Leek Lual, issued a stern warning to the protesting journalists, demanding that they apologize for their ‘defamatory statements’ against the two companies or face legal action.
The protesting journalists had vowed to continue their protest until their demands were addressed.
Meanwhile, in a counteraction to the journalists’ stand for their rights, the company reportedly issued one-month suspension letters handed to the disgruntled national staff by security personnel rather than the management itself.
In May 2024, lawmakers at the national parliament urged the Ministry of Labor to take action against foreigners who are working in South Sudan without proper work permits.
The lawmakers were concerned about reports of illegal entry by foreign workers who are taking away job opportunities from nationals during the recruitment process. As such they urged the Ministry of Labor to ensure job security for locals.