By Bosco Bush
Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), a human rights body has threatened to sue the government of South Sudan over the cumulative outstanding salary arrears of civil servants.
For nearly 10 months, civil servants and members of the organized forces have worked unpaid, sparking public outcry and pockets of protests in Bor town recently.
Ter Manyang stated that if the government does not address the issue promptly, the CPA will have to seek legal remedies at the East African Court of Justice.
“CPA is deeply concerned about the adverse impact this has had on the entire country, as civil servants have gone months without receiving their salaries. If the government fails to take action, CPA is prepared to take the matter to court in Arusha, Tanzania,” reads the statement.
Manyang further warned and gave a one-month ultimatum for the government to clear the civil servant salary arrears or it risks being blacklisted from participating in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
“The CPA only allows one month for the payment of all civil servants’ salaries. If payments are not made within this time frame, officials from the Government delegation will not go to the United Nations General Assembly,” he said in a statement seen by this outlet.
“Therefore, the CPA will write to the United Nations, requesting that all government officials refrain from attending the assembly in New York until salaries have been paid,” Manyang warned.
He underscored that paying civil servants is a social contract between employers and employees, and thus it’s uncommon to find government officials being denied their rights and privileges within their own country, adding that the act causes psychological disorder and possible deaths.
“A significant portion of government workers experience consistent trauma that negatively impacts their mental health. This trauma can lead to employee death, lack of creativity, and motivation,” he said.
Last week, the Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater has promised to pay in three-month installments the outstanding salary arrears of civil servants and members of the organized forces.
However, the promise is yet to be realized.