16 August 2012 - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for South Sudan Hilde F. Johnson told a gathering of UN national staff members in Juba today that the mission's leadership fully appreciates the harsh impact of South Sudan's current economic problems on their living standards.

Ms. Johnson spoke at a town hall meeting held at the mission's Tomping compound to discuss various issues and concerns of the National Staff Association (NSA).

Noting the union's demand for national staff salaries to be paid in U.S. dollars instead of local currency, the SRSG said UNMISS had strongly endorsed the union's position in recent discussions with senior officials at UN headquarters in New York.

"I am ready to be your front fighter in this case," said the SRSG three days after UN national staff members staged a one-day strike in support of their demands. "I am in continuous dialogue with New York and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in South Sudan, and we will surely come up with some interim solution."

Ms. Johnson told the meeting that a final decision on any payroll issue had to be reached by the UN International Civil Service Commission, which is planning to conduct a salary survey in South Sudan soon.

She urged the assembled national colleagues to work together in a transparent manner to make a strong case on behalf of their wage grievances.

In response to a question about employment opportunities for South Sudanese citizens in the UN, Ms. Johnson said that UNMISS and UN agencies are working hard on this issue and have already taken important steps to provide more training and mentoring to national staff.