Authorities in Western Lakes, one of the proposed 28 states, have arrested at least four health workers who reportedly demanded to be paid for their work.

Salaries for most health workers have not been paid for three months.

Veronica Cinduol, a nurse at Rumbek teaching hospital said on Saturday they decided go on strike after four of their colleagues have been arrested by the authorities after demanding to be paid their salaries.

“We decided to stop work today and went to police station to demand the release of our colleagues who have been arrested by the authorities yesterday for raising our complain," said Cinduol 

The health worker said they have been joined by the doctors and other professionals in the strike, leaving patients in the hospital unattended and it remains unclear when they would resume work.

“Instead of listening to our complaint, the authorities decided to arrest four of our colleagues yesterday, which is not a way to address such a matter. Our demand is for the authorities to pay us three month salaries, make increment in our pay, and give us all our allowances. This is all we are asking," she said.

University professors at five public universities and junior doctors at Juba Teaching Hospital in the capital Juba are also on strike over nonpayment of salaries for the last three months.