Lakes: Authorities warn foreigners over work permits
April 25, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Authorities from the Labour and Public Service ministry in South Sudan’s Lakes state issued a directive for foreigners to obtain work permits, or face arrest.
“Those who will not comply with orders will face [the] law” said Abraham Makur Mangok, the Director General in the ministry.
The ministry’s policy is that work permits are required for foreign workers while locally created jobs given to South Sudanese nationals, he added.
The official did not, however, give any timeline for the process.
Makur said that it remains the responsibility of government to ensure that the locals are employed in all sectors, so as to reduce the high unemployment rate in the country.
“The state government will not tolerate those who will not comply with the directives given to foreigners,” he said, adding that even foreigners engaged in non-governmental organisation work need permits, or else lose their jobs
The ministry’s order comes a day after President Salva Kiir strongly criticized the mushrooming of foreign nationals across the country working in all sectors, generating strong sentiments amongst unemployed youth.
“We must create jobs for our people. By this I do not mean expanding the governmental sector, or creating artificial jobs through unnecessary projects,” Kiir told member of the National Assembly Tuesday.
“What I mean, primarily, is an expansion of the private sector. The private sector will be the engine of our development, and it needs to be managed by ourselves, creating real jobs for our people,” he added.
The president said the Justice ministry would present a Labour Bill before the assembly, which once passed, would control rampant immigration into the new nation.
Meanwhile, over 100 suspected sex workers have been arrested in Rumbek Central County, following an order from its commissioner, Abraham Mayen Kuc.
“120 women were rounded up and asked to test [for] their status for sexually transmitted diseases,” said Mayen, adding that 71 of those arrested, after screening, were found to be sex workers.
(ST)