Civil Societies Hold Workshop To Discuss NGO Act As Work Permits For Aid Workers Hiked

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Civil Societies Hold Workshop To Discuss NGO Act As Work Permits For
Aid Workers Hiked
Civil Society organisations in Western Lakes State last week held a
three day workshop organised by USAID-SUCCESS on the NGO Act, the
Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, RRC Act and legal requirements
for registration for NGOs.
13 March 2017
Civil Societies Hold Workshop To Discuss NGO Act As Work Permits For
Aid Workers Hiked
Civil socities representatives pose for a photo in Rumbek [Photo by Mabor Riak]

By Mabor Riak Magok

RUMBEK, 13 March 2017 [Gurtong]-According to the NGO Act, 2016, the
purpose is to provide for the establishment of a legal framework for
the registration, coordination and monitoring of operations of
Non-governmental organizations in the republic of South Sudan.

Speaking during an interview with Gurtong, Wani Michael who is the
program officer of Democracy International-SUCCESS said the
participants discussed the issue of 80% Jobs that is to be given to
the nationals which is not being implemented by most of the
organizations and 20% for expatriates.

He said it is fundamental for the civil societies to be train and made
aware on the NGO Act and the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Act
(RRC) in order to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the NGO
ACT and the NGOs activities operating in the country.

Wani Michael said the training will benefit and help the civil society
organizations to advocate and disseminate the NGO Act in the country.

The participants made the following Recommendations:-

1- 80% job opportunities for the nationals and 20% for the
expatriates to be implemented in the NGOs Act by the Relief and
Rehabilitation Commission (RRC).

2- Civil society organizations and NGOs are not supposed to be
charged with equal fee for registration by the Relief and
Rehabilitation Commission.

3- Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) to put proper
monitoring mechanism for NGOs activities in the Country.

4- All Civil societies to be registered by the Relief and
Rehabilitation Commission instead of Ministry of Social Development as
it is stipulated in the Act.

Meanwhile, last week the government of South Sudan hiked the fee for
work permits for foreign aid workers from $100 to $10,000.

The Labour Ministry in a decree said officials will now charge $10,000
for foreigners working in a "professional" capacity, $2,000 for "blue
collar" employees and $1,000 for "casual workers" from March 1.

This comes after a declaration of famine in the country by UN.

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