South Sudan parliamentary staff go on strike over unpaid wages

Several staff members of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly on Monday went on strike demanding to be paid outstanding arrears for six months.
Juol Nhomngek Daniel, MP representing Cueibet County of Lakes State revealed to Juba Echo that the striking staff locked down all offices in the parliament in protest.

Adding that they also blocked the entrance to the legislative chambers.
“The (striking) staff have been working for the last six months without payment and some of them are suffering badly. They have not received their medication allowance and their children are suffering at home,” Juol said.
Juol added that parliamentary business has been paralyzed due to the ongoing protest.

The Mp disclosed that parliament last week received 200 million South Sudanese Pounds for operation, which he noted could have been used partly to settle the salaries of the striking staff.
“The money is coming to the parliament like last week 200 million SSP came to the parliament and where the money went and why the staff are not paid is not known,” Juol said.
Sunday Marol, another MP said that the striking staff vowed not to report on duty unless their arrears are fully settled.
“We are locked out of our offices by the staff saying that they have been patient for a long time without pay,” said Sunday.
The strike came in the aftermath of the recent benchmarking trip by Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba to Uganda.
Our several attempts to reach the Deputy Speaker of Administration and Finance, Parmena Awerial Aluong for comment went unsuccessful.