GPOC employees welcome gov’t decision for equal payment with international colleagues

JUBA – Employees of South Sudan’s petroleum consortium, Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), have welcomed a decision by the government of South Sudan in which oil companies were directed by a council of ministers meeting Friday to pay local and international staff equally.

Local workers have been demonstrating over several issues with the ministry of petroleum and oil companies. One of the issues is the low payment compared to their counterparts coming from other countries. The decision by the government comes two days after the workers ended a temporary industrial action strike.

Below is the full statement by the employees welcoming the government decision:

WORKERS’ TRADE UNION OF PETROLEUM AND MINING

أتحاد نقابة عمـال البترول والتعديــن

Juba – South Sudan

GPOC Sub – office

SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE ON THE APPROVAL OF NEW UNIFIED HUMAN RESOURCE POLICY MANUAL 2020 FOR SOUTH SUDAN

On behalf of GPOC National Employees, Workers Trade Union of Petroleum and Mining (WTUPM) GPOC Sub-Office and on my own behalf, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Hon. Puot Kang Chol, the Minister of Petroleum, Council of Ministers, and more especially to H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan and the entire Presidency on the approval of the New Unified Human Resources Policy Manual (UHRPM) for all the Operating Companies in the country on Friday, 18th June 2021.

National workers in Oil sector have been deprived of their rights since the inception of Oil and Gas Industry right after the Independence of South Sudan on 9 July 2011. Hence, National Oil Workers in the joint Operating Companies (JOCs) and GPOC in particular have received this great news with joy and jubilation.

South Sudan as a sovereign nation should have its own world-class oil governance policies, laws and regulations that should act as regulatory frameworks. With this new approved UHRPM 2020, Local Content Act and Regulations, Environmental Audit and Cost Recovery Audit for the first time in the oil sector History, South Sudan should aggressively base its plan for prosperity on Human Resource Development through intensive and proper trainings overseas in technical disciplines to take control of operations of the oil Industry at any shortest time possible to safeguard and build financial wealth for the country’s economic growth and sustainable development for future generations.

In conclusion, we once more congratulate the President of the Republic of South Sudan and the entire cabinet for their unwavering support to the Minister of Petroleum and his entire team in the Ministry of Petroleum on this historic achievement which will be remembered for the next generations in South Sudan’s oil Sector. We highly acknowledge the fact that you richly deserve these praises as demonstrated by your patriotism.

You are without any doubt, a clear example of one of the best performing Ministers and committed personality who makes sure that the Ministry of Petroleum performs to its mandate. We wish you nothing but the absolute best of your health and we hope that you will continue putting forth such hard work and dedication for the success of this country.

We also call upon Joint Operating Companies investors in general and GPOC Partners in particular to immediately implement the New Unified Human Resource Policy Manual 2020 for South Sudan as a sovereign nation’s policy and immediately pay all outstanding bonuses/arrears from 2013 – 2017 A.D with Market Adjustment Allowances as per Partners’ resolutions dated 2nd May 2013 and Ministry of Petroleum directives dated 16th June 2021 for smooth petroleum operations in GPOC oilfields.

Please, accept the assurances of my Highest regards.

Mr. Gaitano Victor Agalik

Chairperson, WTUPM GPOC Sub-office

Juba, South Sudan