Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT considered an appeal by the Secretary-General and a cross-appeal by Ms Chen. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT held that the principle that everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work (Article 23(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) applies to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ staff. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT held that budgetary considerations could not trump the requirement of equal treatment. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT declined to grant the relief sought by Ms Chen in her cross-appeal on the basis that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDT awarded damages from the correct date. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT held that the Administration¡¯s allegation that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDT usurped the Secretary-General¡¯s discretion was misplaced, noting that there is no discretion to violate the principle of equal pay for equal work. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT held that the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDT¡¯s finding that Ms Chen was doing equal work to four of her colleagues who were paid more was correct and that it was the only possible conclusion on these facts. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT held that the Administration had an obligation to prevent such a violation. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT agreed with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDT¡¯s assessment that, since there was no reason for the discrimination, the humiliation experienced by Ms Chen was aggravated and deserving of the award of six months¡¯ net base salary. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAT dismissed the appeal and the cross-appeal and affirmed the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDT judgment.