PLO rejects UNRWA layoff plan and seeks $70m to pay staff
The PLO Executive Committee says mass job cuts would not fix the agency's finances and asked donors for urgent money to cover November and December salaries.
The PLO Executive Committee on Sunday rejected plans by the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, to lay off large numbers of staff, warning that the cuts would weaken schools, clinics and relief services for millions of refugees.
Meeting in Ramallah, the committee called for about $70 million in urgent funding to meet immediate needs and pay salaries for November and December, and for donors to commit to predictable long-term support. It urged the agency's acting commissioner-general to suspend the layoff plan and tour donor countries.
“UNRWA employees are the backbone of the agency.”
PLO Executive Committee
The committee also proposed a joint body of host countries and PLO officials to lead a fundraising campaign, and asked UNRWA's management to negotiate with local staff unions rather than act unilaterally.
Reported from
- WAFA (English)25 Oct
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