Assistance by the South African Government to Qualified Citizens who are appointed to positions of responsibility in Multilateral Organisations of which South Africa is a Member

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 286

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 2 OF 19 FEBRUARY 2010

Mr S Mokgalapa (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation:

1. Whether the Government provides any assistance to its qualified citizens who are appointed to positions of responsibility in multilateral organisations of which South Africa is a member;

2. If not, why not;

3. If so, what are the relevant details?  NW302E

REPLY:

1. No.

2.  Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations states the following :
   

                        “1. The staff shall be appointed by the Secretary General under regulations
.............................established by the General Assembly;
                        .2. The appropriate staff shall be permanently assigned to the Economic and Social
.............................Council, the Trusteeship Council, and, as required, to other organs of the United
............................ Nations.  These staff shall form a part of the Secretariat.
                        .3. The paramount consideration in the employment of the staff and in the
............................ determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing the
.............................highest of efficiency, competence, and integrity.”

Employment by the United Nations is furthermore regulated by the UN Staff Regulations, which apply to all staff at all levels, including staff of the separately funded organs and specialised agencies brought into relationship with the United Nations, in which matters of remuneration and related allowances, as approved by the General Assembly, are spelled out. 

Staff regulations in regional organisations such as the SADC, AU and NEPAD or organisations such the Commonwealth are in general based on a similar approach than that followed by the UN system. 

In the case of experts, elected by the General Assembly to serve on an expert subsidiary committee, air tickets and a daily subsistence allowance are paid by the United Nations in order to attend the meetings as per the arranged schedule of meetings.


3. Not applicable     
   

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