UAP national staff who were blocked by security guards from accessing offices at UAP Tower in Juba - Courtesy

Dozens of striking national staff working for UAP insurance company were on Wednesday blocked by security guards from entering their offices in Juba after staging a sit-in-strike.

This comes after they reportedly staged a week-long sit-in strike over what they called an unfair working environment.

In a letter dated September 18^th, fifty-seven UAP National Staff Association accused the company of domesticated employment of Kenyan Nationals yet they are considered expatriates among other issues.

The striking staff also say they face intimidation and harassment whenever they raise concerns during meetings.

Speaking to Eye Radio, the UAP national employees say security guards for the company prevented them this morning from accessing the main building.

“The management gave permission to Warrior Security not to allow any national staff to enter the office this morning in regard to our sit-in-strike,” said one of the staff.

“We were just sitting in the offices doing nothing until our national issues were addressed. To our surprise, Warrior Security blocked us from accessing the building,” he said.

‘When asked for any written communication that prevented all national staff from entering, they were unable to disclose the information. This is the situation we are all in and we request our national government to intervene.”

Another staff who asked not to be identified stated that they warrior security was instructed to deny us access to the office.

“This morning when we came to the office to continue with our sit-in strike which we started last week, unfortunately, we found our offices were locked,” he said.

“The Warrior security told us that they were given an order by the management not to allow any national staff to access any office,” he said.

“We were all pushed out of the fence. As we speak to you, we are all gathered outside. So, we are requesting our enable Ministry of Labor to intervene in the issues,” he added.

“These issues are already been tabled before the relevant authorities so that they can be amicably resolved.”

“We are looking forward to the support of our government into the issues nationals are facing.”

Luka Narsuk, the Chairperson Labor Advisory Council in the Labor Ministry confirmed he received a complaint letter from the striking UAP national staff.

According to Luka Narsuk the Labor Ministry has scheduled a meeting tomorrow to deliberate on the matter.

He said the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor will be informed about the findings.

“I confirmed that I’ve received their complaint letter since May 2023. The case was referred to the Labor Advisory Council so that we look into it and we are going to meet as councils regarding this issue,” said Nrsuk.

“During the meeting, we shall come up with findings so that the office of the undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor will be informed.”

Several phone calls to the Managing Director of UAP- Old Mutual Insurance Company Director, Japheth Omare went unanswered.