Layoffs will be inevitable in UN

Taking office for the second term, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is gearing up to restructure the organization, which has been known for strong job security for its employees. This is a task that has been put on the back burner for a long time by his precedents.

The United Nations confirmed its budget plan for the next fiscal term (2014-2015) at the 68th General Assembly last Friday. The budget was cut by 1 percent from the previous term (2012-2013) to 5.53 billion dollars (about 5.8 trillion won). With the reduction, the budget was lowered for two consecutive fiscal years for the first time after Ban took office.

The budget cut will result in the elimination of the organization’s manpower by 2 percent. The layoff, if realized, will be the first since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. A total of 221 people will be laid off in various areas and the wage will be frozen for one year. Joseph Torsella, the U.S. Representative for UN Management and Reform, said right after the General Assembly that “eliminating positions out of date is desirable and welcomed.” An official from the UN Secretariat said, “It is true that UN has been managed carelessly as if it was a company without an owner. Which positions will be eliminated will be determined from next year.” It is confirmed that Secretary General Ban disseminated the layoff target for each department in June.

In fact, Ban worked hard for the restructuring of the United Nations after taking office, but the internal resistance was so strong that the reform failed to go through. This time, the United States, whose contribution to the origination is the largest among member states, taking up 22 percent of the total, as well as France, the U.K. and Germany, support the secretary general, expediting the reform.

Costs for the Peacekeeping Forces and various relief activities are not included in the budget plan and will be financed separated. In the reform to be conducted under Ban’s leadership, the relief spending will increase while the organization and workforces will be streamlined. The United Nations has allocated 11.5 billion dollars for the relief activities, the largest ever in UN’s history, and started raising the fund from member states and businesses.