In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the National Staff Unions and employees’ societies representing workers at Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC), Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), and Sudd Petroleum Operating Company (SPOC) said they support social insurance benefits for workers but oppose what they describe as an unlawful implementation process.
The unions emphasized that they fully support retirement protection, disability benefits, survivors’ benefits, and the safeguarding of workers’ contributions.
However, they argued that the Ministry of Labor moved ahead with enforcement before the National Social Insurance Fund was properly established in accordance with the law.
“The Unions and Society of Employees in the Joint Operating Companies (DPOC, GPOC & SPOC) fully support the lawful administration of the National Social Insurance Fund for employees in South Sudan,” the statement said.
The statement is signed by Deng Gabriel Matur Malek, Chairman of the DPOC National Staff Union; Gabriel John, Chairperson of the South Sudan Workers Trade Union for Petroleum and Mining at GPOC; and Victor Vojoki Caesar Zemangi, Chairman of the SPOC Cooperative and Society.
The workers cited several provisions of the National Social Insurance Fund Act 2023, including Sections 9, 10, 11, and 36, which outline the formation of the Board of Trustees and the appointment process for the Managing Director.
According to the unions, the law requires a Board of Trustees to be established first before a Managing Director can be appointed.
“Any process in which the Managing Director is appointed before the Board is un-constituted, or outside the Board’s authority, constitutes an apparent violation of Section 36 and weakens the independence of the Fund,” the statement said.
The unions also criticized a directive issued by the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Labour ordering immediate compliance with the fund.
They argued that crucial details such as contribution rates, payment procedures, employer registration, employee registration, designated bank accounts, and workers’ individual accounts have not yet been fully published.
The workers warned that enforcing contributions before these systems are in place could undermine transparency and accountability.
“We therefore call upon the Ministry of Labour to suspend the recent enforcement mechanism that is in conflict with sections 9, 10, 11, 25, & 36 of the National Social Insurance Act 2023 until the law is fully complied with,” the unions said.
Among their demands are legal clarification regarding the appointment of the Managing Director, wider public awareness campaigns on the NSIF Act, publication of implementation procedures, issuance of personal identification numbers (PINs) for workers, and formal consultations with employers, trade unions, and employees’ associations.
The unions stressed that workers’ contributions represent “deferred income” and must be managed with transparency and legal protection.
“It is worth mentioning that Workers’ contributions are deferred income; they must be protected by law and with greater transparency and accountability on all fronts,” the statement added.
The workers further revealed that they have authorized a legal team to represent the three unions and employee societies in pursuing legal avenues related to the operationalization of the National Social Insurance Fund.
The dispute comes as South Sudan seeks to strengthen its social protection system and expand worker benefits across both public and private sectors.
The National Social Insurance Fund Act, enacted in 2023, was designed to provide retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to workers while creating a sustainable social security framework.
