Government employees in South Sudan’s Jonglei State started receiving two months’ salary arrears last week after nearly six months without pay.
The pay comes as some civil servants across the country have threatened to go on strike and others plead for payment of accumulated salary arrears.
Several civil servants interviewed by Radio Tamazuj yesterday welcomed the long-overdue pay but tasked the government to clear the remaining arrears so as to carter for inflation and ease the rising cost of living during the festive season.
“Two months' salaries are not enough, but better little than nothing. Compared to the prevailing market, this salary means nothing. Cloth for a child goes beyond 5, 000 SSP. Here is a salary of 3, 000 SSP. We are happy that we got our rights,” Simon Manyok, a teacher at a government school said while demanding that the government improve their salary structure in 2021.
Another government employee, Deng Mike, said his mood had not been influenced positively as he received the salaries for the months of June and July, lamenting about the inadequacy of the pay.
Duom Kuol Ager, the director-general in the state finance ministry, said July salaries are being paid to the civil servants, days after payment for June earnings.
He called for patience, saying the remaining arrears will be cleared after Christmas.