Major Programme 290. Other Budgetary Provisions

Summary of 1998-99 proposals and comparison with previous biennium (including funds from other sources)

290.1. This major programme includes the budgetary provisions for contributions to various ILO funds and United Nations common system and inter-agency bodies, as well as provisions which do not appropriately fall under any other major programme. The budget estimate for the major programme is some $2.7 million lower in real terms than in the biennium 1996-97. Although an important economy arises because of the cessation of interest payments on the loan on the ILO headquarters building, as explained below, an increase is required in the ILO contribution to the ILO Staff Pensions Fund. In addition, a reduction of $494,380 in real terms is made in the provision for contributions to various United Nations common system bodies and the contribution of $387,935 to the Building Accommodation Fund is deleted for the biennium 1998-99.

Loan annuities on the ILO building

290.2. The Swiss Government decided in July 1996 to waive interest as from 1996 on the outstanding balance of the loan for the construction of the headquarters building, and to extend the period of the loan by three years. Taking account of this decision, provision is made for the payment of two annuities of 3,702,300 Swiss francs in 1998 and 1999 (equivalent to $5,071,630 for the biennium). This welcome decision of the Government thus implies a net economy of some $3.7 million of Swiss francs as compared with the biennium 1996-97.

ILO Staff Pensions Fund: Amortization
of actuarial deficit

290.3. The most recent actuarial valuation of the ILO Staff Pensions Fund forecasts the exhaustion of the reserve fund during 1998. In accordance with the ILO’s commitment to ensure the payment of benefits under this fund, it is estimated that a contribution of $1.7 million will be required during the biennium 1998-99.

Special Payments Fund

290.4. The purpose of this Fund is to make periodic ex gratia payments to former officials or their spouses in accordance with criteria approved by the Governing Body. Since the accumulated reserve is likely to be nearly exhausted by the end of the biennium 1996-97 it is necessary to propose an increase in the regular budget contribution to this Fund to 200,000 Swiss francs.

Staff Health Insurance Fund: Contribution
for the insurance of retired officials

290.5. This provision, amounting to some $8.8 million, covers the ILO’s contribution to the Staff Health Insurance Fund in respect of the insurance of retired officials, invalidity pensioners and survivors (spouses and orphans). The provision reflects an increase of some $380,000 in real terms, due to the expected increase in the number of retired officials.

Contribution to the Building and Accommodation Fund

290.6. The contributions to various United Nations common system bodies and inter-agency committees are as follows:

• Joint Inspection Unit ($405,000)

• Consultative Committee on Administrative Questions ($103,200)

• Consultative Committee on Programme and Operational Questions ($42,290)

• International Civil Service Commission ($666,270)

• Information Systems Coordination Committee ($94,210)

• Joint Medical Service ($1,461,700)

The total provision of some $2.8 million covers the ILO contributions to these UN common system entities.

External audit costs

290.7. The provision under this heading, amounting to $655,000, includes the cost of the audit of all the funds for which the Director-General has custody (regular budget, UNDP, trust funds, extra-budgetary accounts and all other special accounts). Expenses incurred as a result of participation by the ILO’s auditors in the activities of the Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations and specialized agencies are also provided for under this subprogramme.

Administrative Tribunal

290.8. The resources under this heading provide for the Registrar of the Administrative Tribunal, part of the costs of the full-time Assistant Registrar and some clerical assistance, a small mission credit and the translation of case material. As in previous biennia, the remaining costs of the Assistant Registrar, the costs of further translation work, of maintaining a computer database of the Tribunal’s case-law and of clerical assistance and the judges’ fees and travel expenses are shared with the other organizations which have accepted the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.

Staff representation

290.9. Article 10.1 of the Staff Regulations accords time off to members of the Staff Union Committee for the purpose of representing the staff of the Office on questions of conditions of work and terms of employment. As in previous biennia, a provision of 4/00 Professional and 1/00 General Service work-years is proposed to finance partially replacements in those units in which members of the Staff Union Committee normally work. The provision is proposed under this major programme for subsequent allocation to the major programmes where replacements will be provided when the composition of the Committee is known. The balance of 2/00 General Service work-years under this subprogramme provides for a secretary for the Staff Union.

International School of Geneva

290.10. The contribution to the International School of Geneva amounts to some 88,400 Swiss francs.

Unpaid liabilities

290.11. The amount of $2,000 provides for the payment in 1998-99 of such transactions in respect of previous years as would not be appropriate to pay from any other item of the budget. This provision is required by article 17 of the Financial Regulations.

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