Civil servants receiving 200 SSP monthly salary resign in W. Equatoria
August 30, 2016 (YAMBIO) – At least two civil servants in Western Equatoria government of the newly created Gbudue state have resigned from the Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement due to low payment in salary. They said the salary could not catter for their families due to the hiking of prices in the market.
The news was aired over local government owned radio in Yambio which stated that the two unclassified civil servants whom they declined to mention had worked for the state government for 20 years.
The state-owned local radio further explained that the two officials left their positions because the salaries they were getting was less and could not afford to buy the basic necessities to help their families while the government has not increased their salaries as promised to triple it.
“I could not continue to spend the whole month and get only 200 SSP [South Sudanese pounds] which could not help me with my family and prices of things in the market has gone higher even the government did not increase our salary,” said one of the employees.
The current monthly salary of 200 SSP with the current market exchange rate is equivalent to about only three US dollars ($3).
At the time when the salaries were reviewed in 2005 and in 2011, the 200SSP salary was equal to $100 a month when the exchange rate was 2SSP per $1. However, SSP has sharply depreciated against the dollar, increasing the rate by 600%.
One of the resigned officials said he would be better off cultivating in the village than working for $3 per a month salary.
“I rather go to my farm to cultivate to get food for my children than wasting the whole month to get a little money which sometimes delay for four or five months to come. What should I do with that little money? My wife and children need to eat, school fees, clothing etc which they are looking at me to provide but I have nothing to give them.”
According to a reliable source in the ministry, more staff have been complaining on the same issue and threaten to resign because of the low salary and lack of promoting which could increase their salary to feel motivated to work and to cope with the high prices in the market.
This is the first of its kind to hear about government civil servants resigning in Western Equatoria from their duties due to the economic crises which has impacted negatively on the community.
Sudan Tribune could not reach the Director General in the Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement in Gbudue state to comment on the resignation of his staff on Tuesday.
(ST)