World Bank short-term contract employees are regularly asked to work more than their legally billable hours because the lender relies heavily on the temporary labor of a “shadow workforce” to avoid hiring permanent employees eligible for full benefits, according to bank workers and staff association.
Contractors say they fear that failing to comply with additional work requests will jeopardize their contract renewal and could affect their visa status, particularly in the United States.
The staff association delivered a statement during a meeting of the bank’s human resources committee on Wednesday that said that “literally none” of the long-standing issues regarding contractor structure were addressed in a recent analysis of the short-term workforce.
About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
