Casual workers at the Canaan water company in South Sudan's capital city Juba, on Wednesday, resumed work after they struck a deal with the company.
On Monday, over 200 casual workers at the company laid-down their tools citing low wages and poor working conditions.
The management of Canaan on Wednesday resolved to increase the daily wages of the casual workers from 1,200 SSP to 1,500 SSP per day to meet the current economic challenges in the country. However, the employees say the amount is still not enough.
The workers initially demanded an increment in their daily wages from 1,200 SSP to 3,000 SSP.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, the Operations Manager for Canaan Water Factory Mr. Kifle Tedros said the issue was amicably resolved between the workers and the management.
“We were expecting them to come, discuss their dissatisfaction but they began to strike, but later we discussed with them and they agreed and were satisfied,” he added.
He further said they also agreed to increase the workers' medical benefits to 15,000 SSP each.
However, according to Canaan employee, Ms. Afaf Gabriel, the 300 SSP increment per day is not yet enough to meet the ever-increasing cost of living in Juba.
“This money is still not enough because these people are not listening to our complaints. We have been working here since 2017 but no changes up to now, there is nothing for the hospital, they don’t help us even when we lose our family members,” she exclaimed.
Afaf says the factory's management should consider increasing their wages to the 3,000 SSP they requested because the workers are ready to strike again if the situation continues to deteriorate.
Emmanuel Laku, a father of two who has been working at the factory since 2015 echoed Afa's frustrations. He said the wages are barely able to cater to his family's needs.
Canaan Company Limited is a water bottling company established in 2009.