ILO-SRO Manila Staff Union

August 15,2007

Dear Mr. Kemal Dervis

Administrator
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UN Plaza, New York
United States of America

Subject: Labour dispute a t UNDP Philippines Office

This refers to the message of 27 July 2007 received from concerned UNDP staff at UNDP Philippines
Office and to recent media reports concerning the ongoing labour dispute within their ofice.

On behalf of the Staff Union of the International Labour Organization - Subregional Ofice for
Southeast Asia and the Pacific (LO-SRO Manila SU), I would like to express our deepest regret for
what is happening at UNDP Philippines Office, in particular the fact that the concerned UNDP staff
had no other choice but to file a complaint against their Resident Representative, Ms. Noble, for
alleged violations of UN regulations.

As the staff union of the ILO, which strives for social justice and decent work through promotion of
fundamental rights and dignity at work, we stand strongly against any sort of injustice, harassment,
abuses and discrimination at any workplace. We are therefore seriously concerned with the said
reports on the situation at UNDP Philippine Office.

What we regret most was the fact that this issue was not resolved in good faith within the office
through dialogue between the management and the staff concerned. As you may know, the story has
been attracting attention and curiosity of local media and our constituents, raising questions over the
credibility of the entire UN system. It should be noted that Ms. Noble is also Resident Coordinator of
the UNCT, and that the issue also concerns some staff of the UNCT.

In view of the above, the ILO-SRO Manila SU would like to request your serious attention to this
issue and take every possible step to resolve the dispute and establish justice at the earliest possible
timing. We understand that an investigation mission of UNDP will soon visit Manila. It is our utmost
wish that such mission will be carried out in a fair, transparent and objective manner, possibly
involving a Staff Association representative of the HQ level, with due respect and protection to
personal privacy and interests of all the staff involved.

Also, we would like to request UNDP to take necessary measures, initiatives and efforts to promote
and facilitate faithful workplace dialogue and sound labour-management relationship at all duty
stations, and to ensure s\ch dispute as this one will never surface again.

%?ichihiro Ishibashi
Representative
ILO-SRO Manila Staff Union

c.c. Concerned UNDP Staff

UNDP Resident Representative
ILO-SRO Manila Director and Deputy Director
ILO Staff Union / Geneva & Bangkok
Staff Unions/Associations of UN Agencies in the Philippines