Oil workers’ unions have filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal challenging General Circular No. 5/2026 issued by the Ministry of Labour over the remittance of social insurance contributions.
The case was filed by unions representing workers at Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC), Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), and the South Sudan Petroleum Operating Company (SPOC) cooperative and association.
In a statement issued on Monday, the unions said they had made repeated attempts to resolve their concerns through official channels and dialogue with the Ministry of Labour before turning to the courts.
They said those efforts were met with what they described as “unjustified silence”, leaving them with no reasonable alternative but to seek judicial intervention.
The unions said the appeal seeks clarification of the legal scope of the circular, its implementation and the rights of workers affected by it.
The court action follows broader concerns among private-sector workers, including employees of NGOs, companies, diplomatic missions and other organisations.
Workers’ representatives said they had repeatedly called on the ministry since May to engage in dialogue and review the circular, including a demand for its revocation and what they described as a genuine constitution and operationalisation of the National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF).
They warned that failure to address the concerns could result in further legal action and, where necessary, industrial action, including strikes.
“After series of calls and appeals for dialogue and review … but to no avail,” the workers said in a statement, adding that affected employees had “no choice but to challenge the matter in court.”
They said the oil-sector unions were the first among the affected groups to take the dispute to court, while the National Employees’ Union of South Sudan (NEUSS), which represents workers in NGOs, diplomatic missions and other private-sector entities, was expected to pursue similar legal action.
The workers also warned that affected employees could seek legal remedies individually or through other groups.
At the centre of the dispute are concerns over workers’ social security contributions and deductions from their salaries.
The workers argued that personal income should not be affected without the consent of the affected earners and without a credible and transparent system for managing the contributions.
The oil unions, however, stressed that their court challenge does not amount to opposition to social protection or the establishment of a social security system.
“We renew our support for a social security system that is legal, transparent, accountable, and properly managed, serving in a true manner the interests of workers and their families,” the unions said.
They said matters concerning workers’ contracts, social security and long-term welfare require consultation, transparency, public trust and strict adherence to existing laws and regulations.
The petition asks the Court of Appeal to examine Circular No. 5/2026 in light of the Constitution, relevant legislation and applicable legal principles, as well as the rights and interests of affected workers.
The unions urged workers, employers, civil society organisations, state institutions and the public to remain calm and allow the judicial process to take its course.
They also called on all authorities and stakeholders to respect court proceedings and refrain from actions or statements that could undermine the integrity of the case.
The statement was signed by Dink Gabriel Matar Malik, President of the National DPOC Employees Union; Gabriel John Gator Bath, President of the GPOC Office under SSW TUPM; and Victor Foyuki Caesar Zimangi, President of the SPOC Cooperative and Association.
The Ministry of Labour issued Public Circular No. 5/2026 on April 23, 2026, under reference RSS/MoL/3/19.
The circular nullified Circular No. 03-2010 on the accrual and remittance of social insurance benefits, citing the National Social Insurance Fund Act, 2023 and the establishment and operationalisation of the NSIF in January 2026.
It directed employers, private-sector entities, NGOs, UN agencies and diplomatic missions to deduct and remit both employer and employee contributions directly to the NSIF every month.
The ministry also directed employers to reconcile and remit outstanding or previously withheld contributions, while stating that further guidance on contribution rates, remittance procedures and designated accounts would be issued by NSIF management.
The circular stated that compliance was mandatory.
The Ministry of Labour has not publicly responded to the latest court action and warnings of possible industrial action contained in the statements reviewed by Standard Zone News.
