Feature: South Sudan's casual laborers affected by COVID-19 containment measures

JUBA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of South Sudanese informal workers are devastated about their future as anti-coronavirus mitigation measures continue to take a heavier toll on low-income earners in the country.

Mary Tabu, a 27-year-old resident of the capital Juba, said she lost her job as a sales assistant of a motors spare parts shop nearly a month ago amid the closure of non-essential businesses to curb the spread of COVID-19 disease in the east African country.

"As a young independent lady, I have been working for myself, paying for my school fees but since authorities have stopped us from work, life has become very hard and difficult; even finding food to eat is a problem," Tabu told Xinhua.

In March, South Sudan's high-level task-force on COVID-19 headed by President Salva Kiir announced the closure of all non-essential businesses as a means to combat the spread of the disease.

Tabu said the closure of the business where she was earning 33,000 South Sudanese Pounds (about 100 U.S. dollars) per month, took a toll on her savings.

"My boss has nothing to do because he is also negatively affected. The good thing is that he keeps encouraging me to be hopeful and wait for the government to allow the businesses to resume normally, but when, I don't know," said Tabu.

Tabu said as she waits for things to improve, she needs to continue to stay at home but fears most about finding her next-day meal.

Mabuto Ayuen, a 33-year-old father of three said before the authorities banned cross-border travel, he used to earn his income as a bus company's tickets sales agent at South Sudan's Juba-Kampala Bus Park.

"I am going for nearly a month now without making money to feed my family. When I don't have work, I feel like I am failing my responsibilities as a family man," Ayuen said.

"My family will starve if things remain the way they are now for much longer," he added.

Mathew Sule Lado, Central Equatoria State labor union director, said that more than 8,000 workers in both the public and private sectors have been impacted by the anti-COVID-19 measures. Enditem