By Ater
Yuot R. Amogpai
The Transitional
Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 on Freedom of Assembly and
Association, article 25 (1) says: the right to peaceful assembly is
recognized and guaranteed; every person shall have the right
to freedom of association with others, including the right to form or join political
parties, associations and trade or professional unions for the protection of
his or her interests.
The
conventional role of a trade union is to improve the wages and conditions of
members under which they are operating. In
saying that, the WORKERS’ Trade Union
of Petroleum and Mining (WTUPM) under supervision of South Sudan Workers’ Trade
Union was formed in October 21, 2017. The potential role of the
WTUPM is to protect and promote the rights of the petroleum and mining workers
by:
-
Securing
social, economic justice and development for all workers
Fight vigorously for standard of living, social security and fair
conditions of work for all
-
Facilitating
and coordination education and training of all workers so as to further the
interest of the working class
-
Conduction,
coordination and publishing research into matters affecting workers.
Through
peaceful negotiation, the WTUPM is able to secure workers ‘demands and rights.
It is as well mandated to improve communication between employees and
management to facilitate the understanding and commitment to union’s objectives.
In normal
practice, the main weakness of newly established union such as the WTUPM is the
reluctances, making the cooperation a challenge between union and management of
oil and mining companies and concern institutions in the country. In such unions,
the first reasons click to management’s mind are strikes and demonstrations. However,
the pivotal role of the WTUPM is to address the workers conditions in
cooperation with the management in such that to delay and prevent destructive
strikes and demonstrations to occur.
Positively,
members of the WTUPM understand the importance working and stick to laws, rules
and objectives of the Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011,
Constitution of the WTUPM 2017, Labor Act 2017, Workers Trade Unions and
Organizations Act 2013, Petroleum and Mining Act 2012.
Working with recognized
trade union such as the WTUPM can bring many benefits to company and indeed to
employers. The benefits range from building trust among the workforce, ensure
workplaces are safe to audit non-compliance with labor codes, improve staff
retention and from promote equality, provide access to learning and skills,
save money and increase productivity.
The government represented
by ministry of petroleum, ministry of labor, ministry of mining, ministry of justice
and ministry of environment have already expressed their supports cooperation
with the union. The Nile Petroleum Cooperation (NILEPET) and indeed all oil
operating companies did the same.
So far, the
WTUPM has conducted couple of workshops on awareness
raising of the Petroleum and Mining workers on extractive laws and safety regulations
in South Sudan.
The union is shading more awareness on its objectives, roles and activities in
the coming four years.
Enforcement of
all constitutions, laws, rules and acts organizing and governing the WTUPM by
the government, oil and mining companies and indeed by the WTUPM is essential. Cooperation
between the WTUPM and the management of oil and mining companies operating in
the country is significant to improve the workers conditions in terms of wages,
loans, training and other related benefits. This reduces mosquito
principles against management and helps motivate workers and increase
productivity.
