UNITED NATIONS, Jun 23 (IPS) – When billionaire Elon Musk, a former short-lived advisor to President Donald Trump, was mandated with the duty of decimating the federal forms and shedding 1000’s of staffers, he was famously pictured carrying a hacksaw to represent his cost-cutting agenda.
Maybe it’s now the flip of the United Nations for slashing—the UN80 Initiative—however nobody is armed both with a hacksaw or a mini chain noticed.
A UN Process Drive is at the moment exploring workers layoffs, merging of a number of departments and relocating UN companies from high-cost obligation stations, together with New York and Geneva, to lower-costs cities.
In the meantime the Geneva-based UN refugee company introduced its personal restructuring final week: “In gentle of inauspicious monetary realities, UNHCR is compelled to cut back the general scale of its operations”.
“We’ll focus our efforts on actions which have the best impression for refugees, supported by streamlined headquarters and regional bureau buildings,” mentioned Filippo Grandi, the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
As a part of the company’s broader cost-cutting measures, UNHCR has needed to shut or downsize workplaces worldwide and implement a virtually 50 % discount in senior positions at its Geneva headquarters and regional bureau.
In whole, roughly 3,500 workers positions shall be discontinued. Moreover, lots of of colleagues supporting UNHCR on a short lived foundation have needed to depart the group because of the funding shortfall.
Total, UNHCR estimates a worldwide discount in staffing prices of round 30 %.
All through the evaluation train, choices have been pushed by the overarching precedence to keep up operations in areas with essentially the most pressing refugee wants, the refugee company identified.
Relating to workers cutbacks within the Secretariat, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric instructed reporters final week that no UN division shall be exempted from layoffs.
Requested whether or not the 20 % cuts have been inevitable, he mentioned: “This course of is ongoing. It’s throughout the board within the Secretariat, and together with within the Secretary-Normal’s personal workplace”.
“I feel his personal workplace isn’t exempt from it. I spoke to (Below-Secretary-Normal for Coverage) Man Ryder yesterday, and we hope to have him, and different senior colleagues come and transient you in- individual”.
Requested if the Spokesperson’s workplace is included within the cutbacks, he mentioned: “The necessity to cut back is throughout the board– and no workplace is exempt”.
However the final resolution on restructuring will rely, because it does on key coverage points, on approval by the UN’s Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee), with ultimate ratification by the 193-member Normal Meeting, the UN’s highest coverage making physique.
In a memo to staffers final week, the UN Workers Union (UNSU) in New York reminded “all colleagues that no choices concerning the proposed modifications have been authorised by the Normal Meeting (GA) right now.”
“The data shared is preliminary and non-binding, supposed solely to arrange you for potential outcomes ought to the Normal Meeting endorse the proposals later this yr.”
“We urge all colleagues to interpret such communications with warning and to stay conscious that ultimate authority rests with the Normal Meeting, whose choices are nonetheless pending.”
A lingering query stays: will the GA rubber-stamp the choices of the Secretary-Normal and his Process Drive — or additionally heed to complaints from staffers and workers unions?
Within the memo to staffers, Narda Cupidore, President, forty eighth Workers Council, UNSU, New York, outlined “the fundamental premise of potential proposals being made in step with the Secretary Normal’s directions to attain a discount of 15% – 20% of the UN’s common Funds for 2026”.
The memo reads:
- Relocation of Capabilities: Some features could also be moved from New York to lower-cost obligation stations the place the UN already has operational infrastructure.
- Consolidation of Capabilities: Sure administrative companies, could also be consolidated for effectivity. Capabilities is likely to be affected by the proposal to consolidate
- Discontinuation of Capabilities: Some features might should be discontinued, requiring a evaluation of each vacant and encumbered posts to find out choices.
What this Means for STAFF:
- Direct Affect: Some workers could also be requested to relocate, work in numerous time zones, or see their roles evolve. A number of might face the potential of separation.
- Transparency and Help: Workers shall be absolutely knowledgeable of choices affecting them, given enough discover, and supported via reassignment, relocation, separation entitlements, or different mitigation measures.
- Emotional Toll: Even these in a roundabout way affected might expertise stress and uncertainty.
- Engagement and Communication: The group commits to transparency, open communication, and treating workers with dignity and respect. Measures will embrace city halls, workforce conferences, particular person consultations, and collaboration with workers representatives.
Administration proposes that workers shall be supported as follows:
- Transparency and Communication: Workers shall be stored knowledgeable about choices, choices, and timelines. Managers are tasked with sustaining open traces of communication.
- Engagement Actions: Common city halls, smaller workforce conferences, and particular person consultations shall be held to deal with issues and supply steering.
- Help Measures: Workers will obtain help via reassignment, relocation, separation entitlements, or different mitigation measures. The group will work intently with workers representatives to make sure rights and well-being are prioritized.
- Dignity and Respect: The method shall be dealt with with care, treating everybody with humanity and respect.
Wanting Forward
The UNSU says it appreciates the sharing of this vital communication to workers. We proceed to advocate for full transparency, constant and clear communication, and name on all Secretariat entities to uphold this normal with out exception. UNSU stays on standby for the proposed collaboration.
“UNSU continues to boost its concern concerning the realism of the aggressive timeline, the thoroughness of the evaluation in such a short while body; the explanation for the particular established quota of cuts; the shortage of readability on the monetary cuts and their impacts; in addition to the results on the productiveness and high quality of our outputs.
UNSU stays absolutely dedicated to supporting all colleagues throughout this era of uncertainty. We strongly encourage you to interact with workers representatives, share your issues, and report any inconsistencies or challenges chances are you’ll encounter.
This is essential as a result of within the setting of the Delegation of Authority (DoA) Head of Entities might have differing interpretations of directives, thereby creating the danger of inconsistent implementation.
Throughout this complicated and chaotic time, please don’t hesitate to achieve out to the Union – as your suggestions is important to making sure that points are addressed successfully and equitably.
UNSU shall be attending the upcoming Workers Administration Committee Assembly in Kosovo, from 23-28 June 2025 and can report on the end result of that assembly.
When you’ve got skilled inconsistencies, have questions, or want to share your perspective, please attain out to your workers consultant.
For workplaces with out designated illustration, the UNSU management is your level of contact and stands able to advocate in your behalf. You can even submit suggestions on to [email protected].
Collectively, we’ll be sure that your voice is heard and your rights are protected.”
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