Labor Watch - Morad Kotkot
Local staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) are facing significant challenges in their work environment, particularly regarding their salaries. They have reported that their wages have remained at low levels for over three decades without significant improvements.
This ongoing issue has prompted a recent protest by the Intra Staff Union Conference (ISUC). The organization is demanding that the remuneration policy for local staff in the Agency's five areas of operation, including Jordan, be adjusted to match that of their United Nations counterparts.
The President of the ISUC, Ayman Mourad, has pointed out that the current wage policy for local staff is unfair, as it is based on the salary levels of the government staff and the economic situation in the host countries Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. This pegging is not applied to other United Nations staff.
Mourad also stated that UNRWA's wage levels are insufficient and much lower than those paid to their counterparts working at the United Nations in the same areas. In addition, they and do not account for changing employe needs, who struggle to cover their daily living expenses.
He added that increasing the wages of UNRWA staff would not only increase their financial well-being but also enhance their motivation and job satisfaction, thereby improving the agency's overall effectiveness and thus the lives of the communities it serves.
A comparative study conducted by the ISUC in late April showed that there is a significant wage disparity among staff. While the study focused on Jordan, Mourad stated that that the results were consistent with the other UNRWA areas of operation.The study showed that wages of UNRWA employees rose by 40% over 24 annual increases, while the wage levels of other UN staff rose by 70% over twelve years. Furthermore spouse and children bonuses are considerably lower for UNRWA staff.
Mourad confirmed that ISUC rejects any policy that plays a role in unfairly determining the wages of UNRWA employees. He further stated that there are United Nations missions in conflict areas all over the world, where salaries to employees are paid to employees regardless of the current or post-conflict political reality; unlike UNRWA staff whose wages are determined by current or future political circumstances.
ISUC sent their recommendations to both the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the General Assembly in April this year, urging them to amend the UNRWA pay policy.
The suggestions included adopting the salary scale for local United Nations staff, providing a monthly cost-of-living adjustment, working with donor states and UNRWA's Advisory Committee to secure support and funding, and refusing to use the funding deficits as an excuse for delaying the application of a new wage policy.
UNRWA management has confirmed that it understands ISUC’s demands and has acknowledged that the current wage policy is outdated and decades old.
The management also confirmed that they are working with the Agency's workers' associations to pressure the United Nations and donor states to respond to the requirement to amend the pay policy.
Approximately 28,000 local staff work in UNRWA's five areas of operation, with around 6,000 employees in Jordan. They work in various fields, including education, health, administration, microfinance, social assistance, and infrastructure.