Civil Society Coalition Urges Central Bank to Resolve Workers’ Union Dispute Through Dialogue

(JUBA) – The National Civil Society Coalition (NCSC) has called on the leadership of the Bank of South Sudan to engage in dialogue with the Bank’s Workers’ Trade Union rather than dissolving the union following a recent industrial action.

In a statement issued on 14 July, the coalition expressed concern over the Bank of South Sudan’s decision to indefinitely dissolve the Workers’ Trade Union after employees staged a sit-in strike on 7 July to press for the resolution of grievances they had raised with their employer.

According to the NCSC, union members temporarily laid down their tools as part of what it described as a legally recognized form of civil action aimed at seeking redress for workplace concerns.

The coalition argued that the decision to dissolve the union was inconsistent with the legal framework governing trade unions in South Sudan. It cited the Workers’ Trade Union Act of 2013, stating that powers relating to the regulation of trade unions are exercised through mechanisms involving the union itself and relevant government institutions.

NCSC warned that the move could further complicate the dispute and potentially undermine constitutional freedoms of expression and association.

“The decision risks creating a negative precedent and may contribute to self-censorship among existing social structures across the country,” the statement said.

The civil society umbrella body appealed directly to the Governor of the Bank of South Sudan to seek a negotiated settlement with the Workers’ Trade Union.

“We are certain that dialogue will help resolve the underlying grievances of the union and reconcile the two institutions,” the coalition stated.

The statement was signed by NCSC Chairperson Bol Deng Bol, who emphasized the importance of peaceful engagement and constructive dialogue in addressing labour disputes.

The National Civil Society Coalition is a network of grassroots civil society organisations drawn from South Sudan’s states and administrative areas. The coalition advocates for an inclusive and vibrant civil society that contributes to peacebuilding, conflict transformation and national development.

The Bank of South Sudan had not publicly responded to the coalition’s appeal at the time of publication.