STU/68th Council/18/005
11 April 2018

204th Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO

Document 204 EX/21

New Audits by the External Auditor

Part VI

Short-form Audit Report on UNESCO's Internal Human Resources Management Procedures

ORAL STATEMENT OF THE UNESCO STAFF UNION (STU)

Thank you Ms Chairperson, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Once again, STU calls for better geographical representation and improvement in gender parity , especially at higher levels. As for the human resource partnerships , every effort should be made to ensure transparency of their objectives and processes. While welcoming the new policy in danger pay , STU categorically condemns the difference in treatment between international staff and local staff , as the conditions prevailing in a duty station are equally dangerous for both.

STU welcomes the External Auditor’s report on UNESCO’s internal human resource management procedures, which highlights the severe imperfections of the performance evaluation system , MyTalent, which are denounced frequently by STU. Beyond technical considerations, it is essential that performance evaluation be aligned with appropriate training , to enable real improvement and progress for colleagues. STU also campaigns for an objective and transparent 360 degree evaluation , as well as for specific training for managers and human resources officers in charge.

The External Auditor's report confirms that the internal recruitment process was suppressed for the wrong reasons. STU therefore calls for internal recruitment to be reinstated. In addition, STU is outraged at having been excluded from the operation of the new Appointment Review Boards (ARB) ,which confirms the opaque nature of the recruitment process and constitutes a violation of the rights of staff associations. STU denounces a manœuvre by Administration aimed at preventing STU from fulfilling its essential role of defending the rights of colleagues. We wish to warn the Administration that we will not stop here.

In addition, to date, half of the Organization’s workforce is made up of non-staff colleagues , leading to a loss of institutional memory. These colleagues under precarious contracts perform the same duties as staff members, so it is abnormal that they do not enjoy the same rights. We appeal to the Director-General: it is high time to find a mechanism to improve the situation of precarious long-term colleagues.

Finally, STU is concerned about the External Auditor's recommendation to prohibit staff from requesting an audit and reclassification of their posts. Post reclassification is the only available channel for colleagues to review the level of responsibility of a post and to adjust it to reflect reality. We are therefore strongly opposed to the implementation of this recommendation, contrary to the decisions of the International Civil Service Commission.

Thank you for your attention.