Beijing Hotel Gives More than Employment to South Sudanese Staff

By Okech Francis

It may not serve local foods that are delicacies to South Sudanese, but Beijing Hotel, situated in the capital Juba, is one institution that directly serves to develop the livelihoods of the local people in South Sudan.

The hotel is located along Airport Road and is managed by a Chinese businessman, Li Guanghua. He directly employs over 80 South Sudanese as waitresses, cleaners, and construction workers.

“Since the hotel opened about 20 years ago, we have employed the local staff for the long term, and they have become skilled in their work,” Li told The Dawn in an interview at the hotel.

Despite economic challenges in South Sudan, Li, who aimed to set up a business in the East African region since 1998, said the hotel is a success for him as well as for the country.

It’s a classy hotel that accommodates visitors mostly from Asia and the Far East while providing hometown dishes that meet their tastes right here in South Sudan.

“Most of the dishes we provide are Chinese food and Malaysian food. If local people want to try some Chinese food, we will also prepare it for them,” Li said.

“Our customers love the food and pay well for it, and this enables us to give a return to South Sudan. Over 90 percent of our employees are South Sudanese,” he said.

South Sudanese employees have also been provided with the opportunity to upgrade in their various professions, assisted with loans or free cash assistance by the hotel management.

“You see, now we are still under construction, so we have cleaners and helpers, which are around 30, and the construction workers, which are around 50,” Li said.

“Most, when they just came here, didn’t know anything. Gradually, after training and after many years, they have become skillful,” he said.

Li noted that the local staff can enjoy several benefits.

“We are providing accommodation for most of the staff, and the salary is decent,” Li said.

“We pay our staff on time, and when they leave, we also pay for all their legal benefits. If they get sick or injured, it is our obligation to take them to the hospital. They will get medical treatment, and we pay for the bills,” he said.

“So they have something to support their families. If they don’t have a job, they can take nothing to their families. And sometimes, when their families have issues and they don’t have enough money, we always provide some assistance.”

Moses Lakizo Silvan, the Assistant Managing Director of Beijing Hotel, is a South Sudanese employee who has enjoyed the benefits of working at Beijing Hotel.

“In terms of welfare as an employee, we are really enjoying it, and they really treat us in the best way, in a supportive way, and we also give our best,” Silvan told The Dawn.

Silvan noted that monthly remunerations do not delay, which has helped him to meet his family’s needs.

“They give us the morale to keep on working more because what we are getting is really supportive of our families,” he said.

“As the man of the house, I really do support my children at school and even in other obligations and responsibilities, like treating them.”

For Li, the goal is personal development and to ensure the development of South Sudan, which has provided him with the platform to grow his business.

“Because China is developing very fast, we love to move Chinese architecture to South Sudan and also hope that, because South Sudan is a new country, there may be more development opportunities here than in other countries,” he said.

“I hope this country will be stable without war, and so it will develop very fast.”