CANADA OFFERS ALTERNATE SERVICE CONDITIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001570 SENSITIVE SIPDIS IO/MPR/SC FOR H. WARD AND USUN/MR FOR M. SCANLON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AMGT AORC APER UNGA UNGA CA SUBJECT: CANADA OFFERS ALTERNATE SERVICE CONDITIONS HARMONIZATION PLAN REF: OTTAWA 1556 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Canada supports UN personnel management reform, but does not agree with U.S. stance on temporary contracts. Canada also recognizes the urgent need for human resources management reform in light of the new challenges to UN operations in Afghanistan and Darfur. Canada remains a strong supporter of budget discipline at the UN and welcomes the continuing close partnership with the U.S. delegation to the UN. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Canada shares the concerns about human resource related budget issues expressed by U.S. delegation members in New York, according to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) United Nations Division Deputy Director Shannon-Marie Soni. In reviewing recent developments in personnel management, Soni said that Canada welcomed the granting of a special allowance to UN staff serving in the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Canada was pleased to see that the special allowance contributed to a reduced UNAMA vacancy rate. Soni noted, however, that the UN granted the special allowance on a temporary basis and that it will expire in June 2009. Canada sees little appetite within the Fifth Committee to extend special allowances past June 2009, which Canada sees as an important reason to work expeditiously to find a compromise on the harmonization of conditions of service. ¶3. (SBU) Soni expressed appreciation for the U.S. proposal in March and said that the Canadian delegation had been working closely with the U.S. delegation in the Fifth Committee to find a compromise package that would address U.S. concerns. Canada does not agree with the U.S. view that temporary contracts should be the single entry mechanism for all staff into UN peacekeeping operations. Soni argued that Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have found a consensus among &most of the other delegations8 that fixed term or continuing contracts would better enable the UN to recruit and retain high quality personnel than would temporary contracts. Soni said that Canada does agree that temporary field and headquarters UN staff should receive less generous benefits than those employees on fixed term contracts, however. ¶4. (SBU) Soni described the U.S. as isolated on the temporary contracts issue and said that Canada had sought to bridge the difference between the U.S. position and the rest of the Committee, working with Australia and New Zealand. The three countries are putting forth language to define temporary staff as &those undertaking a truly temporary function.8 (Note: Canada's UN delegation has already shared its draft language with the U.S. delegation in New York, according to Soni. End note) Soni explained that these temporary functions might include election monitoring, filling in for those on maternity or sick leave, or augmenting surge requirements. Soni stressed that Canada does see merit in creating a temporary contract system so that the UN can hire people for specific tasks without incurring any expectation that they would be entitled to future UN employment. Canada estimates that its joint proposal with Australia and New Zealand would save about $10 million annually, largely from the regular budget. ¶5. (SBU) Begin draft text of Canadian compromise language: ¶33. Decides that temporary appointments are to be used to Qappoint staff for seasonal or peak workloads and specific short-term requirements for less than one year. Exceptionally, temporary appointments could be renewed for a maximum of up to one additional year when warranted by operational needs related to peacekeeping operations, special political missions, humanitarian operations, and emergency assistance as well as special projects with finite mandates. ¶34. Decides that staff on temporary contracts would only be eligible to receive the following benefits and allowances: post adjustment; rental subsidy; hazard pay; hardship; the DSA portion of the assignment grant; annual and sick leave (depending on length of service); home leave (per classification of duty station); and limited shipment allowance. End draft text. Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada OTTAWA 00001570 002 OF 002 WILKINS