Sudan presidential assistant reiterates committment to labour union cause

December 16, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The newly appointed presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour declared he would remain a unionized person despite his promotion to a senior governmental post.

Ghandour who addressed the opening session of the Arab Council for Banks and Insurance employees in Khartoum on Monday said that no one can “rip his unionist skin” and assured that he would look after the interests of workers despite his new job restrictions.

He noted that he will remain the head of the Sudanese Workers Trade Unions Federation (SWTUF) until the end of the its current session later this month.

SWTUF Secretary General Abdel-Kareem Youssef expressed his sadness over Ghandour’s departure but said that his entry into the palace is a good thing where he will be in the heart of decision making process.

As part of the government-wide shakeup Ghandour this week assumed the posts of presidential assistant and vice Chairman of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) replacing the powerful figure Nafie Ali Nafie.

At SWTUF, Ghandour fought relentlessly for bumping the minimum wage against government wishes which stressed that this step would increase inflationary pressures.

(ST)