STU/67th Council/16/006
8 April 2016

199 EX/5: Follow-up to decisions and resolutions adopted by the Executive Board
and the General Conference at their previous sessions

Part III: Human resources issues

C: Annual report (2015) by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC): Report by the Director-General

STU Addendum

The STU expresses its opposition to the adopted reforms of the compensation package for staff in the Professional and higher categories(family allowances, spouse benefit, child allowance, assignment grant, rental deduction, education grant, mobility and hardship scheme, etc.).

The STU through FICSA intends to actively monitor the implementation of the new compensation package, as well as its consequences for staff and our organizations. In particular, we intend to monitor follow up to the UNGA request that the ICSC report back on how the changes in the new compensation package affect gender balance and geographical mobility. Moreover, the STU will further examine the legal implications of the package in the context of staff’s acquired rights.

The STU is concerned that staff are constantly being asked to do more with less. At the same time, our Organization needs to attract and retain the highest level of expertise and performance. The STU is therefore placing as its top concern safeguarding staff’s pay and benefits.

Education grant

As for the education grant , the ICSC proposed two options for the reimbursement of tuition and enrolment fees. The STU through FICSA was able to persuade delegates to adopt the better of the two options (US $40,600), which provides for a 75% reimbursement of tuition and enrolment fees. Unlike the present scheme, lower amounts of school fees will benefit from a higher rate of reimbursement. The STU remains concerned, however, that unavoidable costs (such as transport, exam fees, books and supplies, mandatory school meals, etc.), which in some duty stations are significant, will no longer be covered.

Regrettably, only in exceptional circumstances will staff at headquarter duty stations be able to receive support for boarding fees for primary and secondary education. Moreover, boarding support and education travel will no longer be available at the university level.

Mandatory age of separation

The General Assembly decided that for staff recruited before 1 January 2014, the mandatory age of separation should be raised by the organizations of the United Nations common system to 65 years, at the latest by 1 January 2018, taking into account the acquired rights of staff. (I.e. staff retains the right to retire at either 60 years or 62 years, depending on the rules applicable when the staff member entered into United Nations service.) Whereas the ICSC had recommended implementing the new age of separation by 1 January 2017 at the latest, major contributing countries supported by the administrations initially proposed postponing implementation until 2020. Ultimately, the compromise date of 1 January 2018 was agreed upon, with organizations being granted the flexibility to introduce the change earlier should they so wish to do so. The STU will monitor that this deadline is met by the Organization, notably by means of a Resolution to be adopted by the forthcoming 39th session of the General Conference.

Moreover, the STU is deeply concerned by the worrying situation facing thousands of new retirees of the United Nations common system, including our former UNESCO staff members, participating in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. Delays in the disbursement of retirement benefits following separation have attained six months.

Mobility and field allowances and benefits

The STU through FICSA argued that proposed cuts to mobility allowances would reduce the attractiveness of geographic mobility. As a result, the UNGA agreed to increase the allowance by 25 per cent for those on their fourth assignment and by 50% for those on their seventh assignment. Regrettably, staff serving in “H” duty stations is excluded from receiving a mobility allowance.

Based on the above, the STU proposes that the following could be added to the decision to be adopted:

The Executive Board:

…

5. Also invites the Director-General to report to it at its 201st session on how the changes in the new compensation package affect gender balance and geographical mobility.

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