NSIF seeks compliance from embassies, international organizations to protect South Sudanese workers

Partnership seeks to establish stronger communication channels between the two institutions to facilitate NSIF’s engagement with international and regional organizations and diplomatic missions

By The City Review

South Sudan’s National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF) is seeking stronger cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to ensure that South Sudanese nationals employed by international and regional organizations, as well as diplomatic missions operating in the country, are registered under the national social insurance system.

This follows a meeting between NSIF Managing Director Hon. Reech Ring Bol and Foreign Affairs Minister Amb. Cecilia Adut, during which the two officials discussed ways to strengthen institutional coordination and improve engagement with international organizations and diplomatic missions.

During the meeting, Minister Adut reaffirmed the Ministry’s support for the Fund and its mandate, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between government institutions in advancing social protection and implementing South Sudan’s national social insurance framework.

The discussions focused on establishing stronger communication channels between the two institutions to facilitate NSIF’s engagement with international and regional organizations and diplomatic missions, including raising awareness of their obligations under South Sudanese social insurance laws.

For NSIF, the issue is directly linked to protecting the rights of South Sudanese citizens working for international employers.

Managing Director Reech Ring Bol said diplomatic coordination is essential to ensuring that eligible South Sudanese employees are registered with the Fund.

He stressed that employers operating in South Sudan should fulfil their obligations under national social insurance legislation and applicable regulations to ensure that eligible workers receive the protection provided by law.

The Managing Director further emphasized that consistent enforcement of social insurance legislation is important for strengthening institutional accountability, promoting legal compliance and protecting employees’ rights.

The proposed cooperation could provide a channel through which the Foreign Affairs Ministry helps the Fund communicate with diplomatic missions and international organizations, particularly where formal diplomatic engagement is required.

For South Sudanese employees working in these institutions, registration with the national social insurance system is an important public-interest issue because it concerns access to social protection and the fulfilment of employers’ responsibilities under applicable national laws.

It also did not identify organizations that may be failing to comply with the law or provide details of any enforcement action taken against non-compliant employers.

The legal application of social insurance requirements to diplomatic missions and international organizations, including any applicable exemptions or special arrangements, also remains an issue requiring clarification from the relevant authorities.

Reech Ring Bol said closer cooperation between the two institutions would help expand social insurance coverage, strengthen the Fund’s institutional capacity and improve engagement with international and diplomatic partners.

The meeting reflects NSIF’s efforts to build partnerships across government institutions as it pursues wider national social insurance coverage and a sustainable social protection system.

As cooperation between the Fund and the Foreign Affairs Ministry develops, the key test will be whether the discussions translate into practical engagement with the employers, improved registration of eligible South Sudanese workers and greater compliance with the country’s social insurance framework.