Youths are firing back at the government and those who accuse them of being lazy and playing dominoes and drinking, saying they should have employment opportunities.
SCR News caught with some youths today at the Ministry of Labour and Public Service looking at the notice board in search of vacancies.Amadrio Doren is specialized in guidance and counselling. She said she has been looking for a job for the last five months in Juba.
She added that youth are not lazy as some people say but they are everywhere searching for job opportunities.
Ms Doren added if the youth have jobs they will be busy.
Barnabas Geu Deng finished high school in Kenya. He said the claims that youths are lazy and refuse to work are lies.
He explained that those who say this are defending themselves because they failed to protect the interests of the youth and prioritize their employment in NGOs operating in the country.
Mr. Geu added that NGOs and hotels owned by foreigners mostly employ non-national staff.
John Manyok finished high school in Kenya and taught Physics for some years before he came to Juba in 2008.
He explained that the ministries of Public Service, Human Resources and Finance are responsible for the issue of unemployment among the youth.
Mr. Manyok said the ministry of Public Service failed to identify what skills Southerners have and what they don’t.
He added that youth are surviving on physical work because their academic qualifications cannot compete with those of foreigners.
About two million foreigners are working in South Sudan, including 250 in senior and secretariat positions at the national government.