04 July 2001

FICSA Update No. 35 2001

    Ad Hoc Human Resources Network Meets in New York

  • The Ad Hoc Human Resources Network (the former Consultative Committee on Administrative Questions) met in New York from 5 to 7 June 2001, in advance of the 53rd session of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC).

  • A good part of the session was devoted to the preparation of the ICSC session.

  • A report was given to the session on the recently held Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Security (see FICSA Update No. 23/2001). The FICSA delegation (Ms. Judey Austin, Regional Executive Committee Member for the Americas, and Ms. Anne Marie Pinou, FICSA Research and Liaison Officer) reported in this context on FICSA’s meeting with the Security Council (see FICSA Update No. 24/2001 ). The meeting congratulated FICSA on its initiative.

  • Reports were also given to the session on the Ad Hoc Meeting on Social Policy Issues in the UN Workplace (see FICSA Update No. 26/2001), and the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS (see FICSA Update No. 25/2001). The Network decided to set up an interdisciplinary task force on domestic violence that would include human resources managers, legal experts and staff counselors. On HIV/AIDS, the Network noted the dire need for funds to pursue the initiatives already taken.

  • The Network had a first discussion on "sustainable employability" and on staff-management relations. A questionnaire on the latter issue will be distributed to a select group of organizations. Some ongoing human resources management studies were also reviewed.

  • The Network was apprised of the success of the simplified relocation grant tested by UNDP. The scheme involves payment of a lump sum for the shipment of personal effects (US$ 12,000 for a staff member without dependants and US$ 18,000 for a staff member with dependants).

  • Finally, there was a short discussion on paternity leave. It was reported that WHO granted 5 days, that ILO would propose 5 days and the right to use any of the 7 days of uncertified sick leave to increase the paternity leave, and that UNICEF was calling for 8 weeks.