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WT/BFA/W/353  
 
25 February 2015  
(15-1113)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration    
 
 UPDATE ON THE STRATEGIC REVIEW 
1.1.  The Director-General initiated a strategic revi ew of the functioning of the Secretariat in early 
2014. In September 2014, he presented to this Committee the main characteristics of the changes 
to be introduced.  The implementation process has now begun. In line with his commitment to 
report regularly on the progress made, the Director-General wishes to inform the Committee, consistent with Staff Regulation 13.2, of the adop tion of two amendments to Staff Rule 102. These 
amendments are intended to align the WTO Staff Rules on the jurisprudence of the ILO 
Administrative Tribunal. 
1.2.  New sub-paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) are added in Staff Rule 102.2. They read as follows: "(e) Members of the Staff Council may dedicate a reasonable part of their working hours to their 
functions in the Staff Council, subject to the workload  of their divisions.  Work in the Staff Council 
shall be deemed to be part of official duties.  
(f) No person shall discriminate, retaliate or threaten retaliation against a staff member for past or 
present participation in the work of the Staff Council.   
(g) A member of the Staff Council shall not be subject to disciplinary action by reason of his or her 
activities to fulfil the functions of the Staff Council as set forth in the Staff Regulations, the Staff Rules and in the Statutes of the Staff Association."  
1.3.  A new paragraph 3 is added to Staff Rule 102. It reads as follows: 
"Staff Rule 102.3 Assistance and Representation 
 
(a) A staff member may seek assistance or representation by another staff member in relation 
to any matter arising under his or her terms and conditions of employment, including the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules and any applicable policies thereunder
1; 
 
(b) A staff member may seek assistance or representation by another staff member, private counsel, or any other individual
2, in relation to any matter related to: 
 
i. administrative investigations and disciplinary measures applied or proposed to be 
applied by the Director-General pursuant to Staff Regulation 11.1; 
 
ii. separation from service; 
 iii. procedures under the heading “Grievances and Appeals” under the Staff Regulations 
(namely Regulations 12.1 through 12.5) and/or  Staff Rules  (namely Rules 114.2 
through 114.9), excluding the mediation procedure provided for in Staff Rule 114.1. 
  (c) No person shall attempt to interfere with or otherwise obstruct or frustrate the provision of 
assistance or representation that conforms to this Rule, be it through harassment, intimidation, 
retaliation, or otherwise;  
                                               
1 This does not prevent staff members from consul ting whomever they wish on these matters. 
2 The WTO will not compensate staff members for any cost they may incur by availing themselves of 
this provision. No staff member assisting or representi ng another staff member may seek financial 
compensation for such work. A staff member may not use hi s/her right to seek assistan ce or representation as 
a means to delay unduly the adoption of any administ rative decision or the conduct of any procedure. WT/BFA/W/353 
 
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(d) Assistance to or representation by a staff member of another staff member within the meaning of this Rule is neither part of official duties, nor does it constitute an outside activity. Supervisors shall allow staff members to provide assistance to and represent other staff members 
as described above during their regular work hour s. Nevertheless, requiring staff members to carry 
out their duties in a timely manner shall not be rega rded as an attempt by a supervisor to interfere 
with or otherwise obstruct or frustrate the provision of assistance or representation. In this 
respect, procedural flexibilities such as extension of deadlines shall be available in conducting 
procedures referred to in paragraph (b) in order to allow staff members engaged in assisting or representing staff members to meet time-sensitive deadlines."  
1.4.  Given that assistance and representation in  the Joint Appeals Board falls within the scope of 
Staff Rule 102.3(b)(iii), current Sta ff Rule 114.8(b) is abrogated.  
1.5.  These two amendments enter into effect on 1 March 2015. 
 
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