Articles: Archives

Activities report 2018

The Former Officials’ Section has a 10-person executive Bureau (one post is currently vacant) which, except during the summer months, generally meets every two weeks. Its office (# 5-67) is next to those of the Staff Union on the fifth floor. Although the Section keeps in touch with its members by email, post and its twice yearly bulletin Message, as well as via its website (http://www.anciens-bit-ilo.org), there is still considerable room for improvement if it is to maintain close contact with retirees in the various regions.

Thanks to the Section’s physical proximity to the Staff Union, its Secretariat, its Executive Secretary and the other members of the Bureau are able to maintain permanent contact and engage in regular cooperation with the Union. These exchanges concern mainly matters of mutual interest, such as the SHIF and the Pension Fund. The Section supported the Staff Union’s crusade against salary cuts in Geneva and welcomed the broad mobilization of the staff during the spring of 2018.

The functioning and maintenance of the Staff Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is a constant subject of concern and one which crops up at each of the Section’s fortnightly meetings. And there seems to be every reason to be worried, what with the risk that the processing of claims could be farmed out to an outside agency and that the social protection of retired officials could be transferred to national schemes – which in many countries do not even exist. Eager though we are to see an improvement in the Fund’s governance and management and in the social protection of retired officials in the various regions, we were also pleased to see the improvement in certain benefits on 1 July 2018 in terms of prevention and of the recognition of certain alternative medicines.

The Pension Fund, too, is going through a turbulent patch, not so much for reasons of finance or efficiency but rather because of a number of internal problems that are hardly conducive to a serene work environment. The Fund has introduced a new integrated computer system, and as a result some newly retired officials have had to wait months for their first payment; fortunately, current payments to retired officials have not been affected.

The Section has continued to work on improving its communications with retirees. Its website (http://www.anciens-bit-ilo.org) is regularly updated, not just with information that is of direct concern to retirees but also with the latest news from the ILO, such as the Staff Union’s recent crusade and strike action mentioned above. At the same time, we are busy preparing the next issue of Message, which is eagerly awaited by a large number of retirees but which involves a lot of time-consuming work. We are sincerely grateful to all those who devote their spare time to the magazine and are always on the lookout for new volunteers to help with translation and proofreading and to write articles or provide documentation.

The Former Officials’ Section always takes part in the annual pre-retirement seminar, where we can spend a few minutes with each participant so as to establish a personal contact with future retirees and encourage them to join the Section.

We are also involved with similar associations of other international organizations in Geneva, and a seminar under the heading “Comment bien vieillir – Stay younger for longer” was held on 14 May 2018 in the ILO’s Governing Body Room in cooperation with the former officials’ associations of WHO, the United Nations (AAFI-AFICS) and the ITU. The working documents for the seminar are available on our website (http://www.anciens-bit-ilo.org). Following a presentation dealing with the normal and pathological impact of ageing on mental health, interventions were heard from associations belonging to the “Plateforme des Ainés de Genève”: Pro Senectute, the Geneva Red Cross, the Geneva home-care assistance institution (IMAD) and Cité Seniors (on the Swiss side of the border) and the gerontological information and coordination centre (CLIC) in the Pays de Gex (on the French side).

The Seminar was attended by 200 participants and was the product of several months’ sustained collaboration among associations of retired officials of international organizations in Geneva. The previous seminar of its kind, on loneliness and isolation, was held in October 2014, and we believe that events such as these show how useful such associations and groups of retirees can be.

As we prepare to mark the hundredth anniversary of the ILO in 2019, which is sure to be a memorable occasion, hundreds of tributes and other events have been planned to be held in Geneva and throughout the world. No doubt they will be closely followed in the media.

The Section is cooperating with the ILO as it prepares for the centenary celebrations, and the Director-General Guy Ryder has personally expressed the hope that former officials, who were the making of the Organization, will follow the event very closely. On two occasions in the first half of this year the Section met the ILO officials who are responsible for arrangements and it has been very pleased to be of help. Though the date has not yet been fixed, a special event will be held for retired officials in the presence of the Director-General. The Section has made a number of suggestions for the occasion that have been duly adapted for inclusion in the general programme of events.

In a circular sent out on 30 January 2018 the Section invited retired officials to send in contributions reliving some of the highlights of the ILO’s history and the response has been encouraging, with over 40 contributions already. Some of the stories appeared in the June 2018 issue of Message, and others will follow. All these contributions will appear on our website (http://www.anciens-bit-ilo.org), as well as being passed on to DCOMM for use in their communications as they see fit.

The Former Officials’ Section also supports the ILO’s Arts and Decoration Circle, a member of the Sports and Leisure Association, whose some 30 plus members organized a fourth exhibition in the Colonnade at ILO headquarters from 1 to 12 October 2018.

The annual receptions for retirees that take place in May and December in Geneva at the invitation of the Director-General are an excellent occasion for former ILO officials to meet up on familiar ground, and the Director-General’s attendance is always greatly appreciated.

SHIF: Settlement between ILO and the ITU

UPDATE FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
18 July 2018

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to inform you of the outcome of a matter relating to the withdrawal of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) from the Staff Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

Following the ITU’s unilateral decision to withdraw from the SHIF and to provide health and accident insurance to its staff and retirees via a third party, a difference arose as to the share of the net assets of the SHIF, represented by the SHIF Guarantee Fund, that should be attributed to the ITU. In accordance with the agreement between the ILO and the ITU, the matter has been decided through arbitration.

The decision is that US$8.9 million of the $61 million available in the Guarantee Fund as at the date of ITU’s separation in May 2014, be transferred to the ITU together with a provision for interest calculated at 1.4 per cent per annum.

The ITU had initially claimed an amount of $18.6 million against the ILO’s figure of $1.8 million representing the net difference between contributions received in respect of ITU insured persons and benefits paid. The ILO’s proposal also reflected the accounting practices and audited financial statements that had been unchallenged by the governing bodies of the two organizations throughout the ITU’s association with the Fund.

The Arbitrator decided that in the absence of any clear legal basis to distribute the net assets, the distribution should be based upon the solvency parameters of the Guarantee Fund as established in the SHIF Regulations.

The transfer of these funds has had no immediate impact on the financial stability of the SHIF. It continues to be appropriately funded and to deliver insurance coverage to ILO insured persons. An actuarial study is being commissioned in order to review the medium to longer term financial outlook.

Guy Ryder

Photos of May 2018 reception of former officials

The photos of May 2018 reception of former officials are online! Thank you to the photograph, our colleague Jacques Rodriguez.

Spring 2018 reception

On Thursday, May 17, 2018 in the late afternoon was held the spring reception of retirees of the ILO at the invitation of Guy Ryder, Director General. Many colleagues had responded, as usual, to this invitation a few days before the start of the 2018 International Labor Conference. The Director-General honored the reception with his presence and had the opportunity to greet many former retired colleagues.

Mark Levin, Director of HRD, greeted the retirees present and gave the floor to Mr. François Kientzler, Executive Secretary of the ILO Elders Section. In his speech, he mentioned a recent ILO Seminar on “How to age well”, which brought together some 200 ILO retirees and other international organizations in Geneva. In particular, this Seminar benefited from the expertise of former WHO retired medical officers. All of the work will be published and available to everyone, including on the Alumni Section website. He then referred to the ILO’s centenary by thanking all those who had already given a testimony about a notorious event they had experienced. This information will be shared with the ILO Communication Service (DCOMM). Two working meetings have already been held at the beginning of the year with the ILO officials responsible for coordinating the Centenary events and the Section of Elders is fully integrated into the process. It will keep retirees informed of any events affecting them.

In his intervention, the Director-General recalled that the general objective of the ILO Centennial was to look to the future and, in particular, to future employment and work. He recalled that the ILO has constantly adapted to the often profound changes in the world of work and that the retirees present have been actors. It is now up to the ILO to look to the future and adapt its resources to the new demands of the profound changes in technologies that change labor relations. But without forgetting all those who are outside these transformations in developed and developing countries. On the occasion of the ILO Centenary in 2019, many events will be held in Geneva and around the world, including a meeting of a United Nations and Swiss Federal Government forum. Regarding the requirements to which the ILO itself is subject, it quoted the duration of the International Labor Conference, which is only two weeks long whereas in the past it lasted up to five weeks. He also mentioned a recent staff strike at the March Board meeting, recalling that this is part of the life and working relationships of any company, so it can happen even at the ILO. In conclusion, he thanked all present for their continued interest in the future of the ILO.

The reception was an opportunity to exchange with friends but also, for many of us, to make new acquaintances. For the members of the Bureau of the Alumni Section this was an opportunity to meet and talk with many retirees. It is also our responsibility to mention the participation of several DCOMM officials in this reception who were able to interact directly with ILO retirees in preparation for the ILO Centenary.

Photos album

Note:

The next reception will take place on Thursday 13th December 2018

A word from the Executive Secretary – June 2018

We are fast approaching the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization in 2019, and it promises to be a landmark year. Hundreds of events, both here in Geneva and globally, are planned to mark the occasion, which we hope will have wide coverage in the media.

For decades, ILO retirees have made their contribution to the ILO by participating in the implementation of its goals throughout the world. In our circular letter of 30 January 2018, we asked you to contribute by recalling moments in this history, and many of you have already answered the call. Some of these recollections feature in 63th issue of Message and others will be published later; all contributions will be put on our website (anciens-bit-ilo.org). As noted in the circular, we will also transmit your responses to the ILO’s Department of Communication, which will be able to integrate them into specific communication topics.

Mention of this topic affords me the opportunity to tell you that we are working closely with various branches of the ILO in connection with the preparation of events for the Centenary, and Director General Guy Ryder has expressed the wish that former officials, who shaped the Organization, should be fully involved. We are delighted to have already had two meetings in the first half of the year with the ILO officials in charge of the Centenary. Although we cannot give you a precise date at the moment, a milestone event will be held for retirees which will be attended by the Director General. We submitted a number of suggestions that have been adapted and integrated into the general programme of planned events. As soon as the timetable has been finalized, you will all be informed, especially those of you who reside some distance away.

This start of year has been an intensely busy one for the Former Officials Section. In addition to our regular activities, 14 May saw us holding a seminar in collaboration with other international organization retirees, which brought together some 200 participants on the theme “Stay younger for longer”. We hope you will all be able to benefit from the results of this event, which we will be posting on our website as well as sharing via mail. The spring reception held on 17 May in the presence of the Director General was the usual resounding success.

This spring, the SHIF sent out new amendments to the Regulations and Administrative Rules that take into account some of the long-standing demands of retirees. Be especially aware of the codes set out towards the end of the Schedule of Benefits, which incorporate coverage of new procedures such as vaccinations, preventive screenings and alternative medicines.

Let me conclude by drawing your attention to recent action taken by the Staff Union, including the staff coming out on strike to defend the status of the international civil service after the recommendation of the ICSC (International Civil Service Commission) to slash salaries in Geneva, and the ILO Governing Body’s decision to implement it.

Latest news of the Pension Fund (June 2018)

Four representatives from the Pension Fund, including the Deputy CEO Paul Dooley and the new RSG Sudhir Rajkumar, briefed Pension Committee representatives of the participating organizations in Geneva (including staff and retiree representatives) on 4 June 2018.

The message was broadly positive although there were also notes of caution concerning the active to retiree ratio (from 3.12 to 1.6 in 2017) and the US $ 300 million excess in 2017 of benefit payments over pension contributions received. This places even greater importance on investment returns to maintain the health of the Fund.

 Human resources

The human resources situation is certainly mixed as the CEO Sergio Arvizu has been on long-term sick leave since August 2017 and is unlikely to attend the next Pension Board meeting at the end of July. The Deputy CEO is retiring from his post at the end of August 2018 (the candidate to replace him should be presented to the Pension Board at the end of July) and the Chief Communications Officer is also leaving at the end of June 2018. On a more positive note the Secretariat of the Pension Fund was granted 4 additional posts last year and all (previously) vacant senior staff positions were filled.

The new RSG responsible for investments, Sudhir Rajkumar, started in January 2018. He has 29 years of broad-based global investment experience with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation and immediately prior to becoming RSG was head of the pensions investment advisory programme at the World Bank Treasury. Despite identifying in his first few months in office a need for additional staff to deal with the increasingly complex and challenging investment environment the number of posts in the investment division is fixed until 31 December 2019.

Operational issues

Mr. Dooley reported that in recent years the Fund has introduced a number of improvements in client services: call centre, member self-service, liaison office in Nairobi, expanded outreach activities and a new web site. An office in Bangkok, similar to that in Nairobi, is also being considered.

Currently the Fund is processing 80% of all claims within a month of receiving them (the median processing time for new claims is 12 working days) and 80% of emails are handled within 15 working days. The aim is to process 75% of all claims within 15 working days so there is still some way to go to achieving the target. He mentioned that the Fund is keen for more retirees to avail themselves of the self-service function and will be conducting an information campaign to encourage people to use the system, which is intended to improve the Fund’s ability to provide a better service to all its members.

Financial health of the Fund

The Fund currently serves 205,000 members: 127,000 participants and 78,000 retirees. The number of retirees is growing faster than active participants (increased by 86% since 1998 as opposed to 76% growth in active participants) and as already mentioned, the payments annually exceed contributions. For the Fund to remain sustainable it must achieve an annual real rate of return (i.e. net of inflation) of 3.5%, which historically it has done except in the last 10 years due to the 2008 financial crisis. The good news is that the investment return in 2017 was a healthy 16.5% – well exceeding the target – but the RSG noted that markets have been volatile in 2018 and there are always peaks and troughs in the returns on financial investments so it is important to be vigilant and certainly not be complacent. He reported, however, that the value of the Fund had remained stable since the beginning of 2018 and as of 31 March 2018 stood at US $ 64.2 billion.

What to watch for the future

• Impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investments strategy: You may have seen the article in which the Guardian criticised the Fund for investing in companies involved in bribery and major environmental damage. This issue was tackled head on by the RSG who stated that the Fund is fully committed to responsible investing and that although the Fund does not discuss individual investments it publishes its policy on ESG investments on the website. It further intends to publish its strategy on sustainable investments. It should be reminded that the Fund does not invest in either tobacco or armaments securities.
• Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) Audit Report 2017/104: The DCEO informed the meeting that there were 16 audit recommendations to be implemented, of which he said five are critical issues.
• Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) Governance Review: The OIOS has started a review of the governance structure of the Fund. No information was given at the meeting concerning the timetable and process of the Review.
• Impact of salary reductions and International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) review of pensionable remuneration: This issue was not raised during the meeting but may become increasingly relevant in coming years. Although recent salary reductions applied only to professional staff stationed in Geneva if salary reductions in other areas were on the cards contribution revenue could be adversely impacted. And the ICSC review of pensionable remuneration in the ICSC 2017-2018 programme of work could also impact (either positively or negatively) on the sustainability of the Fund depending on the outcome.

More information about the senior staff, and operational and financial status of the Pension Fund is available in the most recent UNJSPF newsletter: https://spark.adobe.com/page/QYMPhPeAGRclH/

Message from the Executive Secretary : January 2018

From the Executive Secretary of the Bureau of the Former Officials Section

Dear friends,

None of us these days can say that the years go by like a smooth stretch of highway. That may have been the case a few decades back, when the future of the planet seemed rosier than it does today. International organizations now face all sorts of constraints and pressures both from their constituents and from politicians. The watchwords now are effectiveness, efficiency, cost reduction, performance improvement, outcomes. And the ILO is not immune.

One of our constant concerns is the operation and maintenance of the health fund (SHIF). This is a subject that features on the agenda of every fortnightly meeting of our Bureau. There is much to worry about, like the risk that the administration of benefits may be outsourced, or that retirees may be transferred to national social protection schemes – even though we are all too aware how many countries do not even have one. We are committed to improving the governance and management of our fund; probably by the time you read this editorial you will have been informed via the SHIF Newsletter of the improvements in progress.

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund is also experiencing turbulence, not just for financial or efficiency reasons but rather because of internal problems that do little to foster a calm working climate. The UNJSPF has introduced a new integrated IT system and in many cases new pensioners had to wait months before their first payment. (We should mention that payments to existing retirees have not been affected.)

The Bureau of the Former Officials Section has continued its activity of bringing people together and communicating with retired staff. The section’s website (http://www.anciens-bit-ilo.org) is regularly updated to provide information that concerns you directly as well as about the ILO and its staff’s concerns and interests, which often coincide with those of retirees. We are investing a lot of time to keep the site lively and up to date. But that does not mean neglecting your favourite publication Message, which also takes work and effort. Thanks are due to our contributors; we are always looking for volunteers to help with translations or proofreading, or to write articles and background material.

This spring, the Bureau of the Former Officials Section met the Director General, Mr Guy Ryder. Our report features both in this issue and on the website. I mention this meeting because it indicates recognition of the position of retired staff within the Organization, and we thank the management for that. The two annual receptions held at the invitation of the DG are also a clear sign of appreciation for those who wrote the history of the ILO. This is why the Organization’s Centenary in 2019 will be a year when retirees must be present. We have some projects that have already been raised at the meeting with the DG but now we have to enter into a more pragmatic approach together with the management.

The Bureau of the Former Officials Section participates in the annual Pre-retirement Seminar and we take the opportunity it offers to establish personalized contacts. We work with the retiree associations of other international organizations in Geneva, including the ITU, the UN and the WHO. We are currently preparing a joint seminar on the theme on “Stay younger for longer”. This half-day event is aimed at those residing in the Geneva region, but you will all be kept informed of the results.

The Section re-elected its Bureau at the end of 2017. We thank those who have joined the Section and who voted; but it is never too late to join us even if you have been retired for many years. The more of us there are, the stronger we will be to defend your interests.

François Kientzler
Executive Secretary
Bureau of the Former Officials Section

ILO Centenary – 2019

The next year, 2019, marks the Centenary of the ILO. The Section of Former Officials would like to participate in the actions and events for the Centenary celebrations and therefore I am writing to ask for your help to make the celebrations truly memorable. More information about specific plans will be sent to you later as well as being posted on the Section’s website. The Section has met with the ILO’s Centenary Project Coordinator and our proposed activities are intended to be incorporated into the ILO’s master plan!

With the support and encouragement of the ILO, we are now contacting you to seek your input by way of memories, anecdotes, photos etc. that you may have of important conferences, events, occasions, or people that have shaped or contributed to the organization and its achievements. Any text you might wish to contribute need only be a half to one page of A4 as they are initially intended as “snapshots” although we may ask for some to be developed further as necessary.

Depending on the context and other activities taking place, these texts and/or photos may be used in a special edition of our periodical Message, used by the ILO in one of two books that are being written to mark the occasion or to illustrate other ILO Centenary events and activities.

In order to be sure such contributions can be incorporated we would need to receive them by the end of June 2018. Please send your contributions by email or by post.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Section if you would like more information or have any suggestions on how you can participate in the Section’s activities to mark the Centenary. We need volunteers so please get writing!

Access to ILO building: retired former officials and their families

RETIRED FORMER OFFICIALS

Retirees may access the ILO building on presentation of their Staff Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) insurance card together with a photo identity document such as a carte de legitimation, driving licence, passport etc. Retirees who wish to access the ILO building regularly but do not have an ILO badge may apply for one by email to accreditations@ilo.org.

FAMILY MEMBERS OF RETIRED FORMER OFFICIALS

The ILO does not provide badges to family members. However, family members may access the ILO building on presentation of their Staff Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) insurance card together with a photo identity document such as a carte de legitimation, driving licence, passport etc. Family members who do not have a SHIF card (or who have only the SHIF card for the retired member) but who need to access the ILO building should go to the R2 security desk who will then contact the Control Centre to authorize entry on each visit.

Seminar of the 14th May 2018 : Comment bien vieillir – Stay younger for longer

Documents

• Framework and scope
• Programme
• Cité Seniors, la porte d’entrée…
• AgeEsteem presentation
• Imad presentation
• Mieux manger pour bien vieillir
• CLIC du Pays de Gex
• Survol des principales pathologies mentales liées à l’âge
• Useful links

Audio recording

Photos album

A seminar on “How to age well – Stay younger for longer” was held on 14 May in the ILO Council Room. Organized by the ILO Alumni Section in collaboration with the former staff of the WHO, United Nations and ITU, it brought together about 200 participants. An inter-organization working group met on several occasions for its preparation. Representatives of the Alumni Section were Kitty Hooton, Liz Sommaro, Abdoulaye Diallo and François Kientzler.

After a presentation on the main normal and pathological consequences of aging on mental health, it was followed by several interventions of member associations of the Geneva Seniors’ Platform, Pro Senectute, Geneva Red Cross, the Geneva institution of maintenance at home (IMAD) and Cité Seniors on the Swiss side and the local gerontological information and coordination center (CLIC) of Pays de Gex on the French side, all followed by questions and comments from the participants.

The focus of the seminar was on living better rather than on the negative aspects of aging; In this connection, the three pillars of aging well were recalled: eating well, training one’s body and maintaining one’s mind. The choice of the speakers was also thought to strengthen the anchoring of our associations in the local environment, thus benefiting all the old ones.

The seminar concluded with the message of hope from Bonnie Fatio, Founder of AgeEsteem, “Aging with passion! “. Bonnie reminded us that, according to a study by Yale University, people who have a positive attitude towards their age live on average seven years and six months longer than others.

We hope that the results of this seminar will have a positive effect on the understanding of the specific needs of elderly pensioners, particularly in the area of ​​prevention for our respective health insurance funds. A detailed account of the work is being prepared thanks to the availability of Holger Postulart who accepted to be the rapporteur, taking notes and going to use the documents made available by the speakers and interpreters. All the people who intervened in this Seminar did it voluntarily and we thank them for it.

The working documents will be put on our website and accessible to all public as well as the report thereafter.

This seminar was the result of a sustained collaboration of several months between associations of retirees of Geneva International Organizations working in synergy. The previous seminar – on isolation – went back to October 2014. We believe that such actions are a new demonstration of the usefulness of associations and groups of pensioners, and even if you have already retired for many years, no feel free to join the Alumni Section to give us your contribution and support.