Judgment 3157
114th Session, 2013
International Labour Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Summary: The complainant successfully challenges the lawfulness of the selection process for a post for which he had unsuccessfully applied.
Considerations 9 and 11
Extract:
"[H]aving regard to the submissions [...], the Tribunal notes that the complainant was excluded from the technical evaluation on the grounds that he did not possess all the required qualifications, but that the [three] candidates shortlisted [...] did not possess them either. [...] [T]he complainant received unequal treatment when the shortlist was established. As the selection process is tainted with a flaw, the impugned decision must be set aside and the disputed appointment must be cancelled [...]. The Organization must shield the successful candidate from any injury that might result from the cancellation of his appointment, which he accepted in good faith."
Keywords:
appointment; breach; candidate; competition; competition cancelled; consequence; criteria; degree; equal treatment; good faith; grounds; internal competition; lack of injury; organisation's duties; procedural flaw;
Judgment 2351
97th Session, 2004
International Telecommunication Union
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations 7(c) and 8(a)
Extract:
When he was recruited the complainant provided a copy of a diploma but its authenticity was questioned a few years later. The matter was queried with the educational establishment and the Secretary-General then issued the complainant a written censure. The Tribunal considers that "there was not sufficient proof either that the diploma was not issued to the complainant [...] or that the latter had been informed that, according to the [educational establishment], he was not entitled to receive it. The Secretary-General might have enquired further into the aspects which remained uncertain, but did not do so. The 'likelihood' referred to by the Secretary-General, if it is not incontrovertibly ascertained, cannot make up for the lack of conclusive evidence. Based as it is on an arbitrary appraisal of the facts, the impugned decision as far as it concerns the disciplinary sanction must therefore be set aside. Although it did not give rise to a written decision, the non-renewal of the short-term contract was based on charges levelled against the complainant in the course of the disciplinary procedure. The mere cancellation of the disciplinary sanction must entail that of the decision of non-renewal."
Keywords:
bias; consequence; contract; decision; decision quashed; degree; disciplinary measure; disciplinary procedure; executive head; grounds; implied decision; inquiry; investigation; lack of evidence; non-renewal of contract; organisation's duties; right; short-term; terms of appointment; warning;
Judgment 2122
93rd Session, 2002
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 8
Extract:
The complainant submitted her candidacy for a post of legal assistant. Her application was not taken into consideration because she did not fulfil the eligibility conditions set out in the notice of competition. She submits that there is a contradiction between the provisions of Staff Regulation Article 30 and those of Rule of Application No. 2 which sets out conditions for eligibility. The Tribunal finds "no contradiction between the provisions of Staff Regulation Article 30 and those of Rule of Application No. 2. [...] Contrary to what the complainant appears to suggest, the fact that Article 30(1) of the Staff Regulations says that the 'selection of candidates shall be based on qualifications' does not preclude the setting of eligibility conditions. [...] The eligibility conditions provided for in Rule No. 2 offend against no provision of the Staff Regulations. [...] The complainant did not meet all the conditions set in the notice of competition, and the Agency was therefore right to reject her application."
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: ARTICLE 30 OF THE STAFF REGULATIONS GOVERNING OFFICIALS OF THE AGENCY
Keywords:
appointment; breach; candidate; competition; complainant; condition; criteria; degree; difference; enforcement; grounds; post; provision; refusal; staff regulations and rules; vacancy notice;
Judgment 1646
83rd Session, 1997
International Telecommunication Union
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations 6 and 10
Extract:
"When an organisation chooses to hold a competition it must abide by its written rules and by the general principles set forth in the case law, particularly insofar as they govern the formal side of the process. [...] As the Appeal Board gathered from the personal records of the candidates on the preselection panel's list, [the successful candidate] had neither the university degree nor the experience that the notice required."
Keywords:
applicable law; appointment; candidate; case law; competition; criteria; degree; due process; international civil service principles; organisation's duties; patere legem; procedure before the tribunal; professional experience; selection procedure; staff regulations and rules; vacancy notice;
Judgment 1229
74th Session, 1993
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Summary
Extract:
The complainant impugns the implied rejection which he infers from the organisation's silence on an internal complaint he logded against its refusal to take account of university degrees which he acquired while in the organisation's employ. Eurocontrol submits that the complaint is irreceivable on the grounds that a "complaint" may only be directed against an act adversely affecting an official. The Tribunal holds that "the complainant's letters to the Director General were mere statements of grievances that had no particular purpose" since he does not identify any duty towards him under the general conditions of employment that Eurocontrol may have failed to discharge there cannot have been any "act adversely affecting" him and for want of an appealable decision, even implied, his complaint is irreceivable.
Keywords:
absence of final decision; career; cause of action; decision; degree; failure to answer claim; implied decision; receivability of the complaint;
Judgment 895
64th Session, 1988
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 7
Extract:
The complainant contends that his seniority should be reckoned from the date at which he received a technical school diploma, before earning his university engineering degree. He submits that three British universities regard the technical school diploma as equivalent to a British Bachelor of Science degree. The Tribunal holds that "until there is a common system of scientific diplomas and degrees in Europe there are bound to be differences between the British and Dutch systems. In the circumstances, recognising such differences is not in breach of the principle of equal treatment."
Keywords:
date; degree; difference; equal treatment; professional experience; reckoning; seniority;
Judgment 881
64th Session, 1988
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations 12-13
Extract:
The complainant asks that his professional experience be reckoned anew. "Professional experience and further studies will count under the guidelines only if subsequent to the date of the degree or diploma that qualifies for recruitment. [...] Periods of study, training or other experience prior to obtaining the professional qualification required for appointment to the EPO do form part of the qualification for which they constitute preparation and cannot count all over again as professional experience."
Keywords:
appointment; condition; degree; professional experience; reckoning; seniority;
Consideration 14
Extract:
"Likewise immaterial are the level and length of the experience [the complainant] says should count, and how long such experience must be to be treated as exceptional under I.1 [of Circular 144]. Such questions arise only where the applicant has no degree but is recruited on the strength of exceptional practical experience."
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: POINT I.1 OF CIRCULAR 144
Keywords:
appointment; degree; exception; professional experience; subsidiary; terms of appointment;
Judgment 861
63rd Session, 1987
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 11
Extract:
"The complainant was recruited and graded on the strength of his degree. It is clear from [the circular] that those who get in on their university training will be credited only with professional experience gained after the award of the qualifying degree."
Keywords:
administrative instruction; date; degree; interpretation; professional experience; reckoning; seniority;
Judgment 851
63rd Session, 1987
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 10
Extract:
"Some differences will have to be allowed in the content and standard of engineering degrees until there is international standardisation. For an international organisation like the EPO the only fair and practical approach is to demand for an examiner's post the qualifications required for equivalent duties in the applicant's home country."
Keywords:
date; degree; difference; equal treatment; general principle; professional experience; reckoning; seniority; terms of appointment;
Judgment 850
63rd Session, 1987
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations 9 and 11
Extract:
The complainant claims that useful experience he gained doing scientific work before receiving the academic degree on the strength of which he was appointed to the Office should count. That degree "is the qualification that determines what prior experience shall count. [...] The complainant may not avail himself of the opportunities provided by the [new] guidelines in favour of staff members who have been admitted as exceptional cases on the strength of their practical experience. The appointment of such staff members presupposes in each case a specific assessment of their experience, and no such assessment is made for university graduates."
Keywords:
administrative instruction; date; degree; equal treatment; professional experience; reckoning; seniority; terms of appointment;
Judgment 819
62nd Session, 1987
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 4
Extract:
"'Periods of professional experience after completion of studies may be credited only from the documented date on which university studies were successfully completed'. Military or 'comparable' service counts as reckonable professional experience, [...] no distinction [being made] between periods before and after graduation. [...] Yet the impugned decision was no breach of the principle of equality: the principle holds good only as between those who are in the same position in fact and in law".
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: CIRCULAR 144
Keywords:
date; degree; equal treatment; military service; professional experience; reckoning; seniority;
Judgment 809
61st Session, 1987
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 20
Extract:
"The Director-General's authority is not absolute and quite plainly he failed in this case to pay due regard to the complainant's qualifications and experience in picking P.5 posts."
Keywords:
assignment; degree; discretion; disregard of essential fact; executive head; grade; limits; professional experience; qualifications;
Judgment 794
60th Session, 1986
Pan American Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 7
Extract:
According to PAHO provisions in force, the holder of a professional post must have a university degree [the general rule]. However, an exception may be made for a person who "has attained a body of theoretical knowledge in a recognised field through personal application or effort".
Keywords:
appointment; condition; degree; exception; professional category; professional experience;
Judgment 768
59th Session, 1986
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 2
Extract:
"The complainant requests that the matter of the recognition of his degree should be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Communities for a preliminary ruling. The Tribunal has no authority to order such reference."
Keywords:
competence; competence of tribunal; degree; european court of justice (ecj); remand;
Judgment 521
49th Session, 1982
Pan American Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
The complainant, like two other candidates [Judgments Nos. 519 and 520] was rejected for a particular vacancy for lack of a university degree. "Had it not been for this lack, he would have had a strong claim to be considered, since he had for five years been second in command of the unit to which the post belonged and during an earlier vacancy he had for over a year been in charge of the unit."
Reference(s)
ILOAT Judgment(s): 519, 520
Keywords:
appointment; candidate; competition; condition; degree; professional experience; qualifications; vacancy;
Considerations
Extract:
The Board of Appeal expressed the opinion that the educational requirements for the post in question were excessive and tended to restrict staff career opportunities. "The point can be brought within the competence of the Tribunal only if there is an allegation, which in this case there is not, that the imposition of minimum qualifications is a breach of some regulation or rule or of some term of the complainant's contract of employment."
Keywords:
appointment; competence of tribunal; competition; condition; degree; judicial review; qualifications; vacancy;
Judgment 519
49th Session, 1982
Pan American Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
The complainant's application for an appointment was eliminated because he did not meet the minimum qualification [a university degree]. "He asserts, which may be right, that the qualifications are higher than those needed for the job", but does not support the allegation. He makes other allegations of procedural irregularities and general prejudice against him, "allegations which it is unnecessary to consider since, so long as the educational qualification stands, the rejection of the complainant was inevitable."
Keywords:
appointment; candidate; competition; condition; degree; judicial review; professional experience; qualifications; vacancy;
Judgment 251
34th Session, 1975
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 5
Extract:
"In choosing from among several candidates [...] length of service and university education are not the sole criteria. In fact the most important one is fitness for the vacant post."
Keywords:
appointment; candidate; condition; degree; elements; qualifications; seniority; vacancy;
Judgment 238
33rd Session, 1974
International Labour Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
"The process of selection of civil servants should by its very nature be based not just on the results of an examination but on any other useful criteria. Account should be taken, not only of the candidates' possession of the expressly stipulated qualifications, but of their degrees and of their professional experience, which in itself constitutes a criterion for selection and one of particular relevance in recruiting civil servants."
Keywords:
appointment; competition; condition; degree; discretion; elements; open competition; professional experience; vacancy;
