Civil servants strike looms in Yei River state

June 5, 2016 (YEI) – Civil servants in South Sudan’s Yei River state have vowed to lay down their work tools, should government fail to pay their three months salaries.

“I have received a number of calls from civil servants who all complained about delays in salary payments,” said Scopas Lasuba.

“The government should pay people’s salaries to avoid any action that these civil servants are likely to take up as options,” he added.

In December 2015, the Central Bank devalued South Sudanese Pound (SSP) by 84 per cent leading to immediate hikes in the prices of basic commodities and pushing the local currency to an all-time low of 42 to the dollar. In recent weeks, however, the pound has largely been unstable as traders continue speculating.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is one of poorest countries on the African continent with the worst indicators on development, health and education.

(ST)