Chagor suspends labor minister amid protests over unpaid salaries

BOR – Jonglei State governor Denay Chagor has suspended state minister of labour John Kuek, the government said in a statement on Saturday.

“I, Denay Jock Chagor, Governor of Jonglei State, hereby issue this Gubernatorial Decree for the suspension of Hon. John Bany Kuek as Minister of Labour, Public Services, and Human Resources Development in Jonglei State,” the statement said.

The statement did not provide reasons for the suspension.

Earlier this month, public primary, and secondary school teachers in the Jonglei State capital of Bor demanded that the government pay their four-month salary arrears by Monday or face a strike.

“We are giving the government until Monday to pay our salaries,” said one of the teachers, who declined to be named. “If they don’t, we will strike.”

About 340 teachers made the call while marching through Bor to protest the nonpayment of salaries since July of this year.

“We are tired of not being paid,” said another teacher. “We can’t afford to feed our families or pay our rent.”

The government has not yet responded to the teachers’ demands.