STU/67th Council/16/008
12 April 2016

199th Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO

Document 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

ORAL STATEMENT BY THE UNESCO STAFF UNION (STU)

Thank you Mrs Chairperson, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, STU would like to address the Human Resource Management Strategy for 2017-2022. Indeed, we think it is essential and urgent, in the first instance, to assess the Human Resource Management Strategy for 2011-2016.

For example, STU deplores the absence of a stable corporate training budget financed by the Regular Programme, as well as the lack of staff in the Bureau of Human Resources Management in charge of these matters.

The STU further deplores that promises made during the redeployment exercise in 2014, according to which redeployed staff would be duly trained on their newly-assigned functions, have not been kept.

The STU also regrets that no adequate or appropriate solution for our downgraded colleagues could be found.

The STU is particularly outraged to see that after years of unapplied mobility policies and schemes, HRM is still at the stage of exploring! To this date no mobility mechanism whatsoever has been set up and the majority of dispositions of the October 2013 Mobility Policy have remained unapplied.

However, the STU fully supports HRM’s initiative to finally introduce flexible work arrangements to enable staff to work remotely: these measures will positively contribute to the motivation of staff and improve work-life balance. If the eligibility criteria for flexible work and the modalities to grant it are equitable and transparent, it could be a real progress.

For the rest, the STU notes with regret that there is no improvement in the geographical representation of Member States and urges the Director-General to increase representation within the Organization. And if the STU is satisfied with the overall increase of gender balance , it notes with regret that the percentage of female directors and professionals at the highest grade is still low.

As far as the Medical Benefit Fund (MBF) is concerned, the STU supports the proposed decision to suspend the feasibility study to introduce a new health insurance scheme. However, it should be noted that UNESCO is contributing only 50% towards the health insurance of the staff, while other organizations contribute up to 75%.

Furthermore, the STU expresses its opposition to the adopted reforms of the compensation package for staff in the Professional and higher categories , at a time when our Organization needs to attract and retain the highest level of expertise and performance. Namely, the STU regrets the restrictions on education grant and mobility allowance.

Regarding the raise to 65 of the mandatory age of separation , the STU will monitor that the deadline of 1 January 2018 is met by the Organization. By the way, the STU is deeply concerned by the worrying situation facing thousands of new retirees, delays in the disbursement of retirement benefits following separation attaining presently six months.

Thank you for your attention.