Kiir’s office appeals to civil servants not to go on strike
March 30, 2010 (JUBA) – The Office of the President of the Government of Southern Sudan has appealed to the staff in the government’s civil service not to go on strike over non-payment of arrears.
Staff of the Southern Sudan Television and Radio on Friday warned that they would go on strike, beginning on Monday this week, over non-payment of twelve months of house rent allowances since last year.
The statement assured that the issue of the arrears would be resolved by the government.
The Office of the President said it acknowledged the right of the staff to receive their allowances, explaining that the decision to pay civil servants the house rent allowances was passed by the Council of Ministers and “must be fulfilled.”
It explained that the cabinet took the decision to provide house rent allowances after studying the difficult conditions the civil servants were facing for their accommodations.
The statement said most of the institutions of the government paid their staff since last year, adding this was done without the pressure of having to go on strike first.
The statement assured that the Ministry of Finance was going to look for funds to clear the arrears.
It also reminded that the time was critical for the conduct of elections which needed patriotism. The statement also noted the difficulties faced by the government during the last year’s economic crisis, which might have resulted to the delay in paying the arrears.
After the passing of the resolution by the cabinet last year, most of the government institutions immediately began to pay their staff, by either paying all the 12 months or at least paying a lump sum of six months, with the promise to pay the remaining balance from this year’s budget.
However, staff of the Southern Sudan Radio and TV lamented that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting failed to implement the resolution.
(ST)