By Diana Dejooza
The Government of Central Equatoria State (CES) has managed to reduce its work force from over 20,000 to 12,000 employees, the Director General of Finance and Economic Development, Mr John Ljino Loku has said. He reiterated that the downsizing will continue until it reaches the target number of 9,000 employees. This will give room for 1000 graduates that are seeking employment according to him.
John Ljino said the reason for downsizing the labour force of Central Equatoria State was over employment caused during the war by the need to accommodate and support families who lost their loved ones.
Mr John Ljino explained that the downsizing was necessary because the grant from GOSS to CES covers only salaries for 10,000 employees and added that the criteria applied for downsizing are based on performance of employees, attendance, time in service and the shortage of financial resources of the State.
According to Mr John Ljino, the Government has compensated laid off employees with 1,500 SDG, in addition to their three month salary benefit, to facilitate movement to their home towns.
Mr John Ljino urged the laid off employees to engage themselves fully in agricultural production to raise income for their families and said the GOSS Ministry of Cooperative and Rural Development is encouraging farmers and giving strong support to them.
Some of the effected employees of CES have expressed their disappointment with the programme of downsizing.
Flora Tindilo, the daughter of late Gladys Dumo Remijo, explained that her late mother, who was working for the Directorate of Animals Resources in CES, was one of the first victims of downsizing that took place in December 2009. Before her death, late Gladys Dumo applied for her transport allowance worth 1,500 SDG in May 2010. She never received this allowance and passed away on 22nd September 2010.
Flora also revealed that she followed up this case with the concerned ministry. She was advised instead to apply for two month’s unpaid salaries for November and December 2010. Flora appealed to the state authorities to assist her in processing and paying her mother’s allowance so that she may generate some funds to enable her to pay school fees for her young sisters and brothers, as well as feed the family.
According to Vivian Yapata Soro she was never told why she was downsized while she was working with the Ministry of Education in Juba County. Vivian said, after the downsizing exercise, she applied for the transport allowance and one month unpaid salary but, to date, has not received either. She added that, as a widow trying to bring up her children, she is struggling to get by. To make two ends meet she has decided to sell vegetables in Konyo Konyo market.
