The Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Interior in South Sudan have joined forces to address concerns over foreigners obtaining national IDs and using them to work as nationals. This move comes after the newly appointed Undersecretary in the Ministry of Labour, Deborah Akech, acknowledged that the Ministry of Labour has no mandate to bar foreign nationals in possession of valid South Sudanese national IDs from employment.
Akech stated that the Ministry of Interior, through the Directorate of Nationality, must investigate how foreign nationals obtained the South Sudanese national IDs in the first place. She emphasized that the Ministry of Labour does not issue national IDs, and therefore, cannot prevent individuals with valid IDs from working.
According to Akech, the Ministry of Labour will collaborate with the Ministry of Interior and other law enforcement agencies to prevent foreigners from obtaining national IDs and using them to secure employment as South Sudanese. This initiative aims to address the issue of foreigners working in the country with fake or illegally obtained national IDs.
The Undersecretary made these remarks during her reception ceremony in Juba on Monday. She highlighted that anyone showing a valid South Sudanese national ID has the right to work in the country, and it is not within the Ministry of Labour's mandate to stop them.
Akech's comments come at a time when the country is grappling with issues of governance and security. The Ministry of Labour's collaboration with the Ministry of Interior is seen as a step towards addressing the challenges posed by foreigners working in the country with fake or illegally obtained national IDs.
The Ministry of Interior's Directorate of Nationality plays a crucial role in issuing national IDs, and the ministry will have to establish how foreign nationals have been obtaining these IDs. This will involve investigating cases of identity theft and forgery.
The joint effort by the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Interior aims to promote transparency and accountability in the issuance of national IDs and employment of foreigners in South Sudan. The two ministries will work together to ensure that only eligible citizens and foreigners with valid documentation are employed in the country.
Key points
- The Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Interior are working together to prevent foreigners from obtaining national IDs and using them to secure employment as nationals.
- The Ministry of Labour has no mandate to bar foreign nationals in possession of valid South Sudanese national IDs from employment.
- The Ministry of Interior's Directorate of Nationality must investigate how foreign nationals obtained South Sudanese national IDs.
