The High Court in Jonglei State has issued a ruling demanding that Radio Jonglei, a community radio station located in Bor town, pay SSP 1,660,400 in compensation to five of its former employees whose contracts were unjustly terminated last year.
Last June, Tijwog Agwet, the Chief Executive Officer of Radio Jonglei 95.9 FM, dismissed the station’s news editor, Deng Gai, finance officer Aluel Kut Angeth, and reporters Chol Makol, Agol Samuel, and Gabriel Mach Mayol. At the time, Agwet claimed that the termination was verbal and justified, citing that the individuals were university students who had been volunteering and were engaged with their studies. However, the terminated staff members disputed this decision.
Subsequently, the five employees initiated legal proceedings, alleging unfair dismissal. In the court ruling delivered on Monday, High Court Judge John Yel Aleu stated that the termination had been carried out without following proper procedures.
He ordered Radio Jonglei 95.9 FM to pay a total amount of SSP 1,660,400 as compensation, dividing the sum as follows: Deng Gai Deng, the first plaintiff, was awarded SSP 438,000; Aluel Kut, the second plaintiff, was awarded SSP 311,000; Mach Mayol Riak, the third plaintiff, was awarded SSP 297,600; Agol Samuel Panchol, the fourth plaintiff, was awarded SSP 297,600; and Chol Makol, the fifth plaintiff, was awarded SSP 216,000.
Justice Yel, who also serves as the High Court President in the state, declared that Radio Jonglei 95.9 FM would be responsible for covering the legal costs. He based his decision on sections 72, 80, 81, and 85 of the Labor Act 2017.
Upon hearing the court’s decision, Gabriel Mach, the representative for the plaintiffs, expressed relief that justice had finally been served after a lengthy legal process. He stated, “We were dismissed on June 3, 2022. It took us over a year to fight for our rights and benefits because our dismissal lacked proper procedures. Today, the court has ruled in our favour, awarding us SSP 1,660,200. We are genuinely satisfied with the outcome.”
Agol Samuel, another plaintiff, also welcomed the court’s decision, expressing his belief that justice had been rightfully served.
Radio Jonglei was not immediately available for comment, while the station’s defense lawyer declined to provide a statement, citing his absence from Bor.