UNDT/2009/078, Koh
UNDP had an obligation to its staff to make it clear that the time frame for making applications for ad hoc posts might be less than the two weeks period mandated for QUARRY positions. The respondent, by virtue of the settlement agreement, was obliged to comply, amongst other things, with the Guidelines for the Recruitment and Selection of UNDP Staff, especially since they dealt with the subject of the agreement, namely support for the applicant’s attempts to obtain another post. Where there was a particular duty to inform imposed by the settlement agreement and the failure to inform constitutes a breach of the agreement, a decision not to undertake that duty is an administrative decision whatever form it might have taken or however it was made. Thus, the respondent had made an administrative decision contrary to the applicant’s legal rights under his contract of employment and was liable to compensate the applicant. Outcome: The respondent was in breach of the contract of employment. Further evidence to be tendered on the question of compensation.
UNDP abolished the position of applicant, a permanent UNDP staff member. He commenced appeal proceedings in respect of his termination. These were settled by agreement. One term was that UNDP “would continue to advocate on your behalf [and] provide dedicated career support by our career transition unit (CTU) and external career counselor”. The applicant was unable to find another suitable appointment and he contended that UNDP did not fulfil its obligations to him under the settlement agreement and as an unassigned staff. He submitted, inter alia, that two ad hoc posts had been advertised with foreshortened application times of only eight days rather than the two weeks which were stipulated by the UNDP guidelines. He was therefore not aware of the posts and could not apply for them in time.
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