FICSA CIRCULAR

______________________________________________________________________________
FICSA/CIRC/1063/Rev.1 Geneva, 23 December 2008
Ref: Sal/gs/method (Bangkok)

To: Chairs, Member Associations/Unions

Members of the Executive Committee
Chairs, Members with Associate Status
Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Standing Committees
Presidents, Federations with Observer Status
Chairs, Associations with Consultative Status
Workshop Participants

From: Valérie Seguin, General Secretary

*** Revision ***

REPORT ON THE EXPANDED FICSA WORKSHOP ON GS SALARY SURVEY
METHODOLOGY FOR NON-HQ DUTY STATIONS AND
HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUES
(Bangkok, Thailand, 13 to 17 October 2008)

Part 1: Report by Messrs. Mauro Pace and R.L. Rai, FICSA Expert/Resource Persons

Part 2: Report by Ms. Maria Dweggah, FICSA Resource Person on HR issues

* * *

PART 1

Report by Mr. Mauro Pace and Mr. R.L. Rai FICSA, FICSA Expert/Resource Persons

Introduction

FICSA organized an expanded Training Workshop on GS salary survey methodology for non-
HQs duty stations and human resources (HR) issues in Bangkok, Thailand, from 13 to 17
October 2008. It was hosted by WHO and ESCAP in Bangkok.

The workshop was originally planned to be held at the United Nations Conference Centre
(UNIC) of ESCAP, Bangkok, but due to sudden local disturbances close to the venue, the
workshop had to be shifted to an alternate venue, the Windsor Suites Hotel, Bangkok.

The workshop was attended by 74 participants from 26 countries Bangladesh, Bhutan,

Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Rep. of Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia,
Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan,
Thailand, Timor Leste and Turkmenistan representing 16 UN and its specialized agencies
ESCAP, FAO, ILO, IOM, OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UN-ESCWA, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIC,
 2

UNICEF, UNMIT, UNOCHA, WFP and WHO. The participants were from different
backgrounds and levels of experiences. The list of participants is attached as Annex 2.

The Workshop was divided into two parts i.e. (i) GS salary survey methodology and (ii) human
resources issues. The workshop on GS salary survey methodology was held from 13 to 15
October and was conducted by Messrs. R.L. Rai and Mauro Pace, FICSA Expert/Resource
Persons and were assisted by Messrs. K. Ratnakaran, FICSA Regional Representative for Asia
and Aye Win, Chair of the FICSA Standing Committee on Conditions of Service in the Field. The
workshop on human resources issues was held from 16 to 17 October and was conducted by
Messrs. Svend Booth, Mauro Pace, Aye Win and Ms. Maria Dweggah, FICSA Experts and
Resource Persons.

Inauguration

On behalf of FICSA, Mr. R.L. Rai welcomed Mr. Peter Van Laere, Chief of Administrative
Services, ESCAP, the participants and others present. He stated that 74 participants from 26
countries representing 16 UN and its specialised agencies will be attending the workshop.

Mr. Peter Van Laere welcomed the participants and mentioned about the shifting of the venue of
the workshop from ESCAP to Windsor Suites Hotel. He appreciated the efforts of FICSA for
conducting workshops on GS salary survey methodology and other issues to prepare the
participants to effectively participate in the promotion of their interests. He also mentioned the
objective role played by the Administrations in the determination of conditions of employment of
the UN international civil servants. Inaugurating the workshop, Mr Peter Van Laere hoped that
the participants will find the workshop a good learning experience and wished them a pleasant
stay in Bangkok.

Mr. K. Ratnakaran, FICSA Regional Representative for Asia, gave an overview of FICSA’s
structure, aims and objectives, and activities in protecting the staff and their interests. FICSA
also organizes seminars and workshops for staff and administration representatives worldwide on
compensation and human resources issues and publishes a variety of articles on them. He
regretted for any inconvenience caused to the participants due to the sudden change of venue
which had been beyond the Federation’s control.

Mr. Mauro Pace, FICSA Expert/Resource Person, informed about the meeting, in the following
week, of the ICSC Joint Working Group, where FICSA is represented by Mr. E. Mobio and
himself, established for the review of the GS salary survey methodologies for HQ and non-HQs
duty stations. He mentioned that the Bangkok workshop was very timely in this respect and
invited the participants to draw his attention to any such issues which could be taken up at the
Working Group meeting.

Mr Aye Win, FICSA Expert and Resource Person, appreciated the efforts made by WHO in
Bangkok, in particular Ms Suvaroon Liengsri, to arrange at the last minute for an alternative
venue making it possible to hold the workshop. He also appreciated the cooperation of the
participants under the circumstances.
 3

Workshop on General Service salary survey methodology at non-HQ duty stations, 13 to 15

October 2008

The participants were divided into two groups, each group covering a wide geographical area;
one was assigned to Mr. R.L. Rai and the other to Mr. Mauro Pace. The two trainers imparted
the training following the FICSA programme of work, supported by their own teaching material.

The participants, by and large, were fairly familiar with the elements of comprehensive and
interim salary surveys but, based on their own experiences at home, were eager to improve their
skills in the intricacies and complexities of the survey process. The balanced mix of advanced
students and beginners ensured a healthy exchange of views and experiences. Several
participants expressed their interest in future courses for advanced students.

During the joint session held in the morning of the first day, most participants voiced their
interest in learning and sharing their knowledge with their colleagues back at their respective
duty stations. FICSA trainers appreciated such statements as a proof of the joint effort to improve
the capacity building process initiated by the Federation in the field of salary surveys and other
human resources matters.

An initial test paper was distributed to help the participants in the identification of those areas
requiring improvement in knowledge and clarification.

Content and structure

Based on the CCAQ Salary Survey Manual (revision 1998) updating it to include the relevant
provisions of ICSC Methodology (revision 2003), the contents of training were divided into the
following main segments (see Annex 1 - Programme):

1. Introduction to Compensation
2. Phase I – Preparation
3. Phase II – Data Collection
4. Phase III – Data Analysis
5. Phase IV – Salary Scale Construction
6. Interim Adjustments
7. Special Measures
8. National Professional Officers
9. Quantification of Benefits

The workshop was structured to provide the participants, in an easy-to-understand manner, the
background and insight into the basic principles involved and the processes of the General
Service salary surveys at non-headquarters duty stations. The various aspects of each phase were
orally explained simultaneously with on-screen presentations. These were further explained
through flip-chart notations wherever necessary. This was followed by an inter-action between
the FICSA Resource Persons and the participants and among the participants themselves.
Special attention was paid to provide in-depth training on data analysis for both single employer
and all employers data, and the construction of salary scale.

Workshop evaluation

The participants individually completed the workshop evaluation forms which reflected a very
positive overall assessment of the usefulness of the workshop, the good quality of the trainers
 4

and the clarity of presentations. Suggested improvements related to the duration of the workshop
(three-day duration was in many cases considered to be too compressed) and the availability of
take-home training material. FICSA should also consider organizing workshops on some other
important human resources issues.

Joint session of the two groups

On the last day of the salary survey workshop, in the afternoon on 15 October, a joint session of
the two groups was convened to take note of the relevant staff concerns some of which could
also be raised at the forthcoming meeting of the ICSC Working Group. A number of participants
drew attention to the fact that in the face of steeply rising inflation reflected in the local CPIs, the
results of the surveys were inappropriately low or even negative. The finalization and
announcement of the results of the comprehensive and mini-surveys were enormously delayed
causing avoidable anxiety and uncertainty among the staff at the concerned duty stations. The
data analysis and salary scale construction now is being done, in violation of the provisions of
the ICSC Methodology, by the survey specialists in New York than at the local duty station.
Another cause of concern was the refusal, by the good comparators, to participate/continue to
participate in the UN salary survey and hesitation on the part of some others to part with
pertinent information. It was becoming increasingly difficult to find and retain the required large
number of good comparators meeting the criteria for their selection and retention. In this respect
the criteria for categorization of duty stations needed to be looked at and modified appropriately.
The 15 benchmark jobs developed on the basis of common job classification standards for the
General Service staff at non-headquarters duty stations approved by ICSC in 1991 have become
irrelevant due to the emergence and universal use of information technology. It was becoming
increasing difficult to truly and effectively implement the Flemming Principle in the
determination of conditions of service of the locally recruited staff to reflect the best prevailing
conditions found locally for similar work.

Distribution of FICSA certificates of attendance

After the close of the joint session of the two groups, the FICSA certificates of attendance of
salary survey workshop were given to the participants individually.

Additional sessions

The duration of the workshop was three days rather than the normal five days. It was therefore
not possible to impart required training as extensively as has been done earlier. Sufficient time
also was not available to discuss in detail with the country delegations issues relevant to them.
At the initiative of the country delegations meetings continued to be held with them at mutually
convenient times during the next two days i.e. on 16 and 17 October singly and jointly by the
two trainers to provide additional information and to suggest solutions to problems specific to the
delegations’ respective duty stations.

Duration of salary survey workshops

The duration of FICSA workshops on the salary survey methodology normally has been for five-
days. For this workshop in Bangkok it was shortened to three days i.e. from 13 to 15 October
2008. Based on the experiences of conducting similar workshops previously and the feedback
received from the participants of this workshop, the trainers suggest that as far as possible the
duration of salary survey workshops for non-headquarters duty stations be maintained at five-
days and in any case not be reduced below a four-day duration.
 5

Acknowledgements

The FICSA Experts and Resource Persons would like to record their sincere appreciation of
FICSA for organizing this workshop, of the FICSA Regional Representative for Asia and WHO
Bangkok, in particular Ms. Suvaroon Liengsri, for arranging alternate venue and making
physical and logistic arrangements and the participants for their understanding and cooperation.
The competent manner in which the FICSA General Secretary and FICSA Secretariat staff
coordinated the workshop under difficult circumstances is acknowledged.
 6

Annex 1

FICSA WORKSHOP
ON GENERAL SERVICE SALARY SURVEY METHODOLOGY FOR NON-
HEADQUARTERS DUTY STATIONS

(Bangkok, Thailand, 13 to 15 October 2008)

Programme

Working hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm

Lunch break: 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm
Tea/coffee breaks: Morning – 10.30 to 10.45 am and Afternoon – 3.00 to 3.15 pm

Monday, 13 October 2008

9.00 a.m. Inauguration

9.30 a.m. Registration

Remuneration for Locally Recruited UN Staff / NPOs

Workshop Introduction
Flemming Principle
ICSC Methodology and Operational Manual
Roles and Responsibilities in the Survey Process
Phases of the Survey
National Professional Officers

Preparation Phase

Selection of Employers
Benchmark jobs
National Taxation
Compilation of Staff Inventory
Approaching Employers

Data Collection Phase

Briefing and Training of Data Collection Team

Interview Preparations
Employer Interview

Tuesday, 14 October 2008

Data Collection Phase (contd.)

Gathering General Information, Job Matching and Information on Salaries,

Allowances and Other Data
Completion of Master Questionnaire
 7

Data Analysis Phase

Organization of Data
Quantification of Benefits
Retention and Elimination of Employers and Jobs
Application of Taxation
Individual Employer/All Employer Data Analysis

Construction of Salary Scale

Characteristics of a Balanced Salary Scale

Labour Market/Internal Relativities

Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Construction of Salary Scale (contd.)

G-4 Pivot Point

Salary Scale Construction – Examples
Non-pensionable Components

Establishment of Allowances and Charges

Dependency Allowances
Language Allowance and Other Allowances
Charges

Finalization and Approval

Interim Adjustments

Mini-surveys/Indexation/Spot-Checks

Special Measures

Very high inflation/Significant Devaluation/Other situations

Alternative Approaches

Workshop Recommendations

Workshop Evaluation

Award of Certificates of Attendance

 8

Annex 2

FICSA WORKSHOP
ON GENERAL SERVICE SALARY SURVEY METHODOLOGY FOR NON-
HEADQUARTERS DUTY STATIONS

(Bangkok, Thailand, 13 to 15 October 2008)

List of participants

Ms. Marina Jayasinghe WHO Sri Lanka

Ms. Geethani Dissanayake WHO Sri Lanka

Mr. Silas Rai WHO Nepal

Mr. Rudra Sirnet Thakuri WHO Nepal

Dr. Gursharan Singh WHO Timor Leste

Ms. Kyi Kyi Nyein WHO Myanmar

Mr. Clement Chandran WHO Myanmar

Ms. Mariyam Hafeeza Ahmed WHO Maldives

Ms. Kamilani Baniwati Usodo WHO Indonesia

Ms. Maria Erly WHO Indonesia

Ms. Elvira Arciaga WHO Manila

Bahrein Nor Jettey WHO-GSC Kuala Lumpur

Ms. Sylvia Vivien de Costa WHO-GSC Kuala Lumpur

Mr. Hasibul Amin WHO Bangladesh

Ms. Miho Mitsui WHO India

Ms. Chai Xi UNAIDS China

Dyah Anggraini Wardani UNAIDS Indonesia

Ms. Jiyeon Kim UNDP Rep of Korea

Ms. Joy Liang Jing UNDP China

Nalini Vaithyanathan UNDP Sri Lanka

Mr. U. Maung Maung Kyaw UNDP Myanmar

Ms. Nadia Akbar UNDP Pakistan

Mr. Sann Sok UNDP Cambodia

Ms. Kolap Hul UNDP Cambodia

 9

Mr. Meapelo Maiai UNDP Samoa

Ms. Hiba Sabanekh UNDP Jordan

Ms. Sundus Shakir Mahmoud UNDP Iraq

Mr. Salam Al-Habobi UNDP Iraq

Ms. Umeda Nurmamadova UNDP Tajikistan

Mr. Sonam Tsoki Tenzin UNDP Bhutan

Mr. Helal Uddin UNDP Bangladesh

Ms. Narantuya Namjil UNDP Bangladesh

Mr. Kurbanova Bahar UNDP Turkmenistan

Ms. Regina Urmanova UNDP Turkmenistan

Ms. Afsana Taher UNFPA Bangladesh

Mr. Mozaharul Islam Khan UNFPA Bangladesh

Ma. Antonina S. Ducusin UNFPA Philippines

Ms. Colleen Cho Cho UNFPA Myanmar

Ms. Ibtisam Dababneh UNFPA Jordan

Ms. Vongdara Souphanouvong UNFPA Lao PDR

Mr. Hamid Poshtyar UNHCR Iran

Mr. Don Dayawansa Jayalatharachchi UNHCR Sri Lanka

Ms. P.M.S. Presanthi Gamage UNHCR Sri Lanka

Mr. Harvinder Singh Ramday UNHCR Kuala Lumpur

Mr. Naresh Manandhar OHCHR Nepal

Ms. Hala Akram Al Resheq UNHCR Jordan

Ms. Hajara Asabe Abubakar FAO Nigeria

Ms. Beverley Palihawadana FAO Sri Lanka

Ms. Aruneeprapa Peansanong FAO Thailand

Ms. Orathai Vrakornvorawut FAO Thailand

Ms. Boonmaly Phisayavong WFP Laos

Mr. Muhammad Tariq WFP Pakistan

Mr. Salim U. Shaikh UNICEF Pakistan

 10

Mr. John Bosco Dino Oliha UNICEF Sudan

Ms. Souvannahnali Phinitpapha UNICEF Lao PDR

Ms. Maria Jose T.P.O. de Araujo UNICEF Timor Leste

Mr. Birenda Amatya UNICEF Nepal

Ms. Nann Sanda UNICEF Myanmar

Mr. Vijju Kasayapanandha UNICEF Bangkok

Ms. Manasikarn Rao UNICEF Bangkok

Ms. Ambreen Muzaffar UNIC Pakistan

Ms. Ranya Kargbo UNMIT Timor Leste

Ms. Julie Abouarab UN-ESCWA Lebanon

Mr. Izdihar Eltigani UN-ESCWA Lebanon

Mr. Razi Mujtaba Haider ILO Pakistan

Ms. Jolly Dawar ILO India

Ms. Flocerpida Parales ILO Manila

Mr. Sumet Muthikul ESCAP Thailand

Mr. Siriwat Theerawong ESCAP Thailand

Ms. Tavitra Ruyaphorn ESCAP Thailand

 11

PART 2

Report by Ms. Maria Dweggah, FICSA Resource Person on HR issues

FICSA organized an expanded training Workshop on GS salary survey methodology for non-hq
duty stations and human resources (HR) issues in Bangkok, Thailand, from 13 to 17 October
2008. It was hosted by WHO and ESCAP in Bangkok. The courses on HR issues were held
over a two-day duration i.e. 16 and 17 October.

The objective was to take advantage of the unique opportunities of a training workshop on GS
salary survey methodology which draw together many participants, most of whom are staff
representatives, but also include HR staff, and provide them basic training on HR issues.
Participants came from a large variety of UN organizations (ESCAP, FAO, ILO, IOM, OHCHR,
UNAIDS, UNDP, UN-ESCWA, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIC, UNICEF, UNMIT, UNOCHA, WFP
and WHO) and duty stations, mainly from the East but also some from Africa and the Middle
East. The extended workshop provides for basic training on such issues as pensions,
staff/management relations, staff representation with their agency and locally, dialogue within
the common system, performance evaluation, recruitment/selection, harassment, classification,
contracts and administration of justice.

The workshop was originally scheduled to take place at ESCAP with two separate groups of 35
each. Due to the unrest in Bangkok, FICSA was obliged, at the last moment, to change the venue
to a hotel which had meeting facilities. However, because of the lack of availability of
conference rooms at the hotel, the workshop was carried out with the full number of participants.

As customary, time was set aside for the participants to express their concern about individual
cases affecting their duty stations.

Overall, and from the 50 evaluations received, the workshop seemed to be a success. Time
management was a recurring criticism as well as the level of conference facilities. There was a
general appreciation for the facilitators and the opportunity to learn more about the above-
mentioned HR issues. Most important was the possibility to share experiences and to feel the
sense of belonging to the UN family, which is difficult in specific duty stations away from
headquarters.

FICSA’s expanded workshops are a good mechanism to reach a wide number of staff from
different duty stations and agencies.
 12

Annex 3

FICSA WORKSHOP ON HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUES

(Bangkok, Thailand, 16 and 17 October 2008)

List of participants

Ms. Marina Jayasinghe WHO Sri Lanka

Ms. Geethani Dissanayake WHO Sri Lanka

Mr. Yugesh Rajbhandari WHO Nepal

Dr. Gursharan Singh WHO Timor Leste

Ms. Kyi Kyi Nyein WHO Myanmar

Mr. Clement Chandran WHO Myanmar

Ms. Mariyam Hafeeza Ahmed WHO Maldives

Ms. Kamilani Baniwati Usodo WHO Indonesia

Ms. Maria Erly WHO Indonesia

Ms. Elvira Arciaga WHO Manila

Ms. Sylvia Vivien de Costa WHO-GSC Kuala Lumpur

Ms. Suvaroon Liengsri WHO Thailand

Dr. Sombat Thanpresertsuk (1day GS) WHO Thailand

Mr. Hasibul Amin WHO Bangladesh

Ms. Miho Mitsui WHO India

Ms. Jiyeon Kim UNDP Rep of Korea

Ms. Joy Liang Jing UNDP China

Nalini Vaithyanathan UNDP Sri Lanka

Mr. U. Maung Maung Kyaw UNDP Myanmar

Ms. Nadia Akbar UNDP Pakistan

Mr. Sann Sok UNDP Cambodia

Ms. Kolap Hul UNDP Cambodia

Mr. Meapelo Maiai UNDP Samoa

Ms. Hiba Sabanekh UNDP Jordan

Ms. Sundus Shakir Mahmoud UNDP Iraq

 13

Mr. Salam Al-Habobi UNDP Iraq

Ms. Umeda Nurmamadova UNDP Tajikistan

Mr. Pem Deki UNDP Bhutan

Mr. Helal Uddin UNDP Bangladesh

Ms. Narantuya Namjil UNDP Bangladesh

Mr. Kurbanova Bahar UNDP Turkmenistan

Ms. Regina Urmanova UNDP Turkmenistan

Ms. Afsana Taher UNFPA Bangladesh

Mr. Mozaharul Islam Khan UNFPA Bangladesh

Ma. Antonina S. Ducusin UNFPA Philippines

Ms. Colleen Cho Cho UNFPA Myanmar

Ms. Ibtisam Dababneh UNFPA Jordan

Ms. Vongdara Souphanouvong UNFPA Lao PDR

Ms. Hajara Asabe Abubakar FAO Nigeria

Ms. Beverley Palihawadana FAO Sri Lanka

Ms. Aruneeprapa Peansanong FAO Thailand

Ms. Orathai Vrakornvorawut FAO Thailand

Ms. Boonmaly Phisayavong WFP Laos

Mr. Muhammad Tariq WFP Pakistan

Dyah Anggraini Wardani UNAIDS Indonesia

Mr. Don Dayawansa Jayalatharachchi UNHCR Sri Lanka

Ms. P.M.S. Presanthi Gamage UNHCR Sri Lanka

Mr. Razi Mujtaba Haider ILO Pakistan

Mr. Seung Joe Cha UNHCR Rep of Korea

Mr. Harvinder Singh Ramday UNHCR Kuala Lumpur

Ms. Hala Akram Al Resheq UNHCR Jordan

Ms. Vinodini De Silva UNHCR Sri Lanka

Ms. Sunita Shakya OHCHR Nepal

Mr. John Bosco Dino Oliha UNICEF Sudan

 14

Mr. Birenda Amatya UNICEF Nepal

Mr. Salim U. Shaikh UNICEF Pakistan

Ms. Thida Oo UNICEF Myanmar

Ms. Nann Sanda UNICEF Myanmar

Mr. Vijju Kasayapanandha UNICEF Bangkok

Ms. Manasikarn Rao UNICEF Bangkok

Ms. Ambreen Muzaffar UNIC Pakistan

Ms. Sunita Pradhan UNOCHA Nepal

Ms. Ranya Kargbo UNMIT Timor Leste

Ms. Julie Abouarab UN-ESCWA Lebanon

Mr. Izdihar Eltigani UN-ESCWA Lebanon

Ms. Jolly Dawar ILO India

Ms. Flocerpida Parales ILO Manila

Mr. Sumet Muthikul ESCAP Thailand

Mr. Siriwat Theerawong ESCAP Thailand

Ms. Tavitra Ruyaphorn ESCAP Thailand