JUBA, South Sudan – The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) has called on The City Review and Al Hagiga newspapers to reinstate staff who were previously suspended without preconditions, stating that their suspension was illegal. UJOSS cites the South Sudan Labor Act of 2017, which mandates equal remuneration for work of equal value, and insists that any unilateral decision by employers contravening this provision is null and void.
According to the Labor Act, Section 8, all employees are entitled to equal pay for work of equal value, which is defined as work requiring comparable knowledge, experience, capacities, responsibilities, and effort. The act further states that employees who have been underpaid as a result of discriminatory decisions or agreements are entitled to recover the amount by which they were underpaid.
Additionally, the Labor Act, Section 96, affirms the right of employees to strike and the right of employers to lockout as a means of resolving disputes. UJOSS maintains that the staff of The City Review and Al Hagiga newspapers have not engaged in any illegal activities and therefore should be reinstated with full pay for the period of their suspension.
UJOSS has expressed its readiness to pursue legal action against The City Review and Al Hagiga newspapers if the suspension of the employees is not revoked.
UJOSS’s core mandate, as outlined in its constitution, includes the safety and protection of journalists, the promotion of professionalism, and the welfare of journalists across South Sudan
