The World Health Organization is offering the option of voluntary early retirement to eligible employees as it seeks to cut costs following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the agency.
It is offering a voluntary early retirement package to staffers working at all duty stations, according to a WHO statement.
Bloomberg News, which first reported the development, had said the WHO had offered early retirement along with four months’ pay to staffers who will be 55 or older by June and that those who accept would have to leave the agency by July 15.
Trump started a 12-month withdrawal process for the U.S. to leave the WHO in January.
The agency initiated cost-saving measures, including cutting travel expenditure and halting recruitment, after the U.S. moved to withdraw.
The United States is the WHO’s biggest government donor, contributing around 18% of its overall funding.
REUTERS
