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Announcing Airline Discounts for UN Staff Private Travel

Dear colleagues,

The Staff Union is thrilled to announce a set of special offers provided by Kenya Airways , Turkish Airlines and United to the United Nations staff and our dependents for our leisure (non-official) travel.

Please see the flyer attached for the promo codes you can use for 10% and 15% discounts on the tickets you purchase under the same booking. Please note you will have to register the booking under your @un.org email for the discount to apply.

The offer applies to bookings made before 31 December 2021 (and for travel through 31 May 2022 on Kenya Airways).

Please see full details and contact for queries in the flyers attached.

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Official travel

Ai 2013 - 3 [official travel].doc.

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  • Per Diem Lookup

Privately owned vehicle (POV) mileage reimbursement rates

GSA has adjusted all POV mileage reimbursement rates effective January 1, 2024.

* Airplane nautical miles (NMs) should be converted into statute miles (SMs) or regular miles when submitting a voucher using the formula (1 NM equals 1.15077945 SMs).

For calculating the mileage difference between airports, please visit the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inter-Airport Distance website.

QUESTIONS: For all travel policy questions, email [email protected] .

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PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

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Rates are available between 10/1/2021 and 09/30/2024.

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When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

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Aerial view of the Bibby Stockholm barge

Company that manages Bibby Stockholm given £100m Defra contract

Defra says contract with Australian firm CTM is for staff accommodation and travel, but offers no further detail

The company that manages the Bibby Stockholm barge used to house asylum seekers has been granted a £100m contract with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

It is the latest large government contract given to the Australian company Corporate Travel Management (CTM). The government was heavily criticised by the National Audit Office for its £385m contract with CTM to manage quarantine hotels during the pandemic, which cost the taxpayer £400m including £100m in unpaid room bills and fraud.

Defra has refused to say exactly what the new contract is for, stating only that it will be used for travel and accommodation for staff.

CTM has a two-year, £1.6bn, contract to manage the Bibby Stockholm, which is moored in Portland, Dorset. The barge has frequently made headlines, including recently with the suspected suicide of Leonard Farruku , an Albanian asylum seeker, onboard in December.

Deadly legionella bacteria was also discovered on the vessel the same day asylum seekers were first moved onboard, and the Fire Brigades Union has warned that the barge, which was reconfigured to accommodate twice the number of people it was originally designed for, was a potential “deathtrap” . It is the subject of a legal challenge relating to planning rules for the floating structure by the mayor of Portland, Carralyn Parkes.

A National Audit Office investigation found that the company’s £385m contract with the Department of Health and Social Care to provide quarantine hotels for incoming travellers to the UK during the Covid pandemic had resulted in almost £100m in unpaid room bills and fraud.

Defra declined requests to provide a breakdown of what the £100m would be spent on over the next three years, nor how many staff would benefit from hotels and transport provided by CTM. It is understood this is a new contract awarded under the Crown Commercial Services framework .

A Defra spokesperson said: “Large organisations have corporate travel and accommodation contracts procured in a way to ensure value for money for taxpayers.”

Defra sources said all government contracts, including this one, must follow strict procurement regulations before being awarded.

The published documents relating to the contract are heavily redacted, with even the information about social value commitment and the frequency of progress reports blacked out. The Defra contract covers a variety of arms-length bodies, including the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, controversy over the Bibby Stockholm barge has been damaging for CTM. Last month, the travel group’s founder and chief executive, Jamie Pherous, admitted the company might not make any money out of the controversial Bibby Stockholm deal. A significant downgrade of its earnings, due in part to the failure of the UK contract, triggered a recent 20% share price plunge.

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Israel-Hamas war latest: Hamas number three killed, US says - as video shows anguish after Israel's raid on hospital

The US has said Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claims 20 Hamas fighters were killed and dozens of suspects arrested in a raid on Gaza's al Shifa hospital - which the health ministry described as a war crime.

Tuesday 19 March 2024 10:55, UK

  • Israel-Hamas war

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

  • US says Hamas number three Marwan Issa killed by Israel
  • Alistair Bunkall: Death is a big success for Israel
  • IDF soldiers raid al Shifa hospital in Gaza City
  • Screams of anguish in video showing aftermath of Israel's raid on hospital
  • Several killed as hospital on fire, say Palestinian health officials
  • Journalist 'beaten and detained' in raid
  • Michael Clarke : Israel under pressure as evidence grows it is committing systematic war crimes
  • Watch: Israel films storming of hospital by drone | What video tells us about the raid
  • Biden speaks to Israeli PM - their first call in 32 days

That's all for this evening, but we'll be back tomorrow with regular updates and analysis.

Scroll down to read what happened during the day.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has joined those to express their concern about Israel's planned assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr Trudeau was speaking with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Monday.

A statement from Mr Trudeau's office said he had "shared his concern" around the planned offensive "and the severe humanitarian implications for all civilians taking refuge in the area".

"He underscored the need to increase the volume of life-saving humanitarian aid for civilians and to ensure aid reaches all those in need, safely and without delay."

Christopher Lockyear, from Doctors Without Borders says any attack on Rafah would be "a disaster upon a disaster".

He tells the camera he is travelling through part of Rafah "which is incredibly crowded - we've been moving at a snail's pace for the last 10-15 minutes or so".

"There are people everywhere, there are tents and makeshift shelters to the left and right of me and there are kids literally everywhere, which is a real shock."

Mr Lockyear said: "Clearly any ground invasion into Rafah would be an absolute catastrophe.

"It doesn't bear thinking about."

As we have been reporting today, the situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate, with children now starving to death in the enclave.

The UN has said famine is imminent, and the head of its  Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief body, Martin Griffiths, has condemned world leaders for failing to prevent the current state of affairs.

"Famine is imminent in Gaza," he said.

"More than one million people are at risk because they have been cut off from life-saving aid, markets have collapsed and fields have been destroyed.

"The international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop this.

"We must flood Gaza with food and other life-saving aid. There is no time to lose.

"I renew my call to the Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods.

"We know that once a famine is declared, it is way too late. We also know that, with action and goodwill, it can be averted."

This is footage filmed by a Sky News team near the al Shifa hospital earlier today.

Israel raided the hospital for the second time during the war, accusing Hamas of using it as a base.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 gunmen in the operation.

The hospital was Gaza's largest before the war and is now one of the only healthcare facilities that is even partially operational in the territory's north.

It has also been housing displaced civilians.

Israel's prime minister has agreed to send a team of officials to Washington DC so "an alternative approach" can be discussed with regards to Israel's plans for Rafah.

The news comes from US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who was speaking after a call between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu.

The team will include military intelligence and humanitarian officials but it was not clear when they would travel to the US.

Israel said last weekend that it planned to launch an assault on Rafah, but there is growing concern about the safety of civilians in the city - where more than one million people fled to after being ordered to evacuate other parts of Gaza by Israel.

The call between the two leaders also comes amid US frustration with Israel's conduct during the war, including accusations that it has prevented from getting into the enclave.

Mr Sullivan said a major ground offensive would be a "mistake" and would "further isolate Israel internationally".

Bearing in mind that Rafah is a primary entry point for aid from Egypt and Israel, he said an invasion would also "shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is sorely needed".

Looking across the rest of Gaza, Mr Sullivan said a "humanitarian crisis" had descended.

"Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilised," he said.

The death of Marwan Issa is a big success for Israel, writes  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall .

First reported a week ago by the Jerusalem Post after an air strike in central Gaza, there was no official confirmation until tonight.

It's unclear why the US confirmed his death before Israel.

Issa is the deputy Commander of Hamas's military wing and would have been involved in the planning of the October 7th attacks. He is normally regarded as the number three in Hamas.

Issa has the nickname "shadow man" for his ability to evade Israeli forces.

The whereabouts of Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, remains unknown, likewise Mohammed Deif, the commander of the military wing.

It's thought they might be hiding in the southern city of Rafah, one reason why Israel wants to send ground troops in, though if Issa was located in central Gaza then it's possible others might be there too.

The US says Israel killed Hamas number three Marwan Issa in an operation last week.

Sky News has approached the IDF for confirmation but their response was: "The IDF has no comment on the matter."

When we covered reports of the death on 11 March, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had said they were awaiting confirmation.

Below is the last-known photo of Issa, taken at a 2015 security conference organised by a Hamas-aligned organisation.

For those following the situation in the Middle East, one of the big questions is when - or if - Israel will launch its assault on Rafah.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the weekend that the assault was still necessary to "eliminate the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah".

But for those who are trying to arrange aid deliveries - and those who are desperately waiting for them - the lack of certainty is already risking lives.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said aid operations in Gaza cannot be planned more than two or three days ahead at the moment because of the instability and uncertainty.

"It would be a really difficult scenario for us to envisage the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people being forced from Rafah because of the incursion.

"We are not in a position to contingency plan that. We're not in a position to pre-position shelter, material, food, medical supplies and especially water... It will be a real problem for us." 

Why does this matter?

It is already extremely difficult to get aid into Gaza due to the security situation and Israeli restrictions.

In desperation, a small group of countries has resorted to dropping aid from the air and deliveries have finally been arriving by sea - but neither of these makes up for the capacity that should be brought in by road.

And, as has been confirmed today, the need is immense - the UN says famine is "imminent" in northern Gaza and people in the rest of the enclave are struggling to access food.

Mr McGoldrick said: "If there was to be an incursion, that (aid) system we have, which is already precarious and intermittent, would then be broken."

Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall  is in Jerusalem and says the US and Israeli leaders would have had a lot to discuss during their 45-minute call.

"We have seen over recent weeks, in the absence of communication between the two leaders, quite a public spat between Israel and Washington, the US president making it very clear that he is not happy with the way that this war is being fought and the lack of humanitarian aid that is getting into Gaza.

"For his part, the Israeli prime minister has been defiant and adamant that Israel will pursue its war aims, specifically, the release of all the hostages and the elimination of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If that means going into the southern city of Rafah, then that is what the Israelis plan to do."

Over the weekend we learnt that Israel is still planning to push ahead with an assault on Rafah, in Gaza's south.

The US, Israel's staunchest ally, has said it will not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians.

Bunkall said an assault on Rafah does not seem to be imminent but that the world is "increasingly concerned that Israel is gearing up for it", with all of the humanitarian consequences that could have.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar, with a senior Israeli delegation flying there today.

"The expectation is that they might take a long time, maybe a couple of weeks if they're going to be successful.

"But Hamas has lowered its demands, Israel is still saying that are being unrealistic in what they are expecting. But there is certainly, it seems, room for negotiation. And as long as that stays the case, then there will remain hope that a new ceasefire deal can be agreed at some point."

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10-Foot-Tall Monolith Appears In Wales—What We Know About The Mysterious Object

A hiker came across a large metal monolith near a small Welsh town Tuesday, according to multiple outlets , the latest discovery of a monolith in recent years that has once again sparked speculation about the strange structures’ origin.

Local builder Craig Muir saw the monolith while on a hike near the town of Hay-on-Wye, describing the upright block as being made of “a very fine metallic almost like a surgical steel," according to the BBC .

Muir said he was “taken aback” by the sight of the object, saying it “looked like some sort of UFO” and noting the leveled and steady placement of the monolith despite windy weather, the Guardian reported.

The monolith was located atop a hill that couldn’t be accessed by a car—a placement that made Muir believe the object could have been placed by a group of people or a helicopter.

Muir suggested to the New York Times the monolith “could be some sort of art installation,” noting there were no visible tracks near it despite some footprints—though Muir said he wasn’t sure if another passerby had seen the monolith themselves.

The monolith had no obvious welding marks on it and had shiny, crisp edges, Muir told the Times.

What We Don’t Know

It’s unclear how heavy the monolith is, nor how deep it was placed into the ground, which appeared muddy in photos taken by Muir. No person or collectives have taken credit for the object yet.

Key Background

The monolith is one of several similar objects that have appeared throughout the world in the last four years. In 2020, monoliths were found in Utah, California, New Mexico, Romania and the Isle of Wight. The Utah monolith was found by people onboard a helicopter in a remote part of the state. The triangular prism was also about 10 feet tall and was eventually removed by an “unknown party,” according to a statement from the federal Bureau of Land Management’s Utah office. An artist collective known as The Most Famous Artist took credit for the monoliths in Utah, Romania and the U.K.

Further Reading

A ‘Perfect Monolith’ Appears in Wales (NYT)

An artist collective says it is selling monoliths for $45,000, causing speculation that it created the bizarre phenomenon (Business Insider)

10-Foot-Tall Monolith Appears In Wales—What We Know About The Mysterious Object

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  • Staff Regulations and Rules

Staff Rules

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Staff Regulations and Staff Rules, including provisional Staff Rules, of the United Nations

Secretary-General’s bulletin

ST/SGB/2023/1

1 January 2023

            Under Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, the General Assembly establishes staff regulations which set out the broad principles of human resources policy for the staffing and administration of the Secretariat and the separately administered funds and programmes. The Secretary-General is required by the staff regulations to provide and enforce such staff rules, consistent with these principles, as the Secretary-General considers necessary.

            The Secretary-General, pursuant to staff regulations 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 and 12.5, promulgates the following with respect to the Staff Regulations and Rules [1] of the United Nations effective as from 1 January 2023, and hereby promulgates the following with respect to the provisional Staff Rules, provisionally effective as from 1 January 2023.

            Articles 8, 97, 100, 101 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, which relate to the service of the staff, are included in the introductory part of the present edition of the Staff Regulations and Rules, including provisional Staff Rules, on page 6.

                         Section 1

                         Provisional Staff Rules

1.1      The provisional Staff Rules introduce gender-inclusive language in accordance with resolution 72/147 of 19 December 2017, in which the General Assembly reaffirmed the important role of UN-Women in leading, coordinating and promoting accountability of the United Nations system in its work on gender equality and the empowerment of women. Additional editorial changes were made to simplify and streamline the provisional Staff Rules, to improve the user-friendliness and clarity of the text, and to eliminate duplication.

1.2      In provisional staff rule 1.2 (Basic rights and obligations of staff), paragraph (e), on specific instances of prohibited conduct, the reference to the marriage of a staff member with a person who is under the age of 18 but over the age of majority or consent in his or her country of citizenship was removed in line with General Assembly resolution 73/153 on child, early and forced marriage, in which the Assembly called upon States to develop and implement measures at all levels to end child, early and forced marriage.

1.3      New provisional rule 1.3 (Employment and accessibility for staff members with disabilities) was added. The provisional rule is in accordance with General Assembly resolution 73/273 and is based on the elements currently included in the Secretary-General’s bulletin on employment and accessibility for staff members with disabilities in the United Nations Secretariat ( ST/SGB/2014/3 ).

1.4      Provisional rule 3.3 (Salary policy) was modified to ensure that salary steps in grade are determined in a consistent manner regardless of whether the staff member changes category, is appointed or is selected for a new position at a higher level within the same category.

1.5      New provisional rule 3.7 (Rental subsidy) was added for the purposes of additional consistency and clarity in the Staff Rules

1.6      New provisional rule 3.16 (Deductions and contributions), paragraph (c), was added to provide a clearer basis on which the Organization may make voluntary deductions in accordance with the amounts reflected in family support court orders in cases in which staff members have failed to meet those obligations.

1.7      Provisional rule 4.4 (Staff in posts subject to local recruitment), paragraph (b), on the recruitment of National Professional Officers, reflects the increased flexibility in the use of National Professional Officers in accordance with the guidelines approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 72/255 .

1.8      Provisional rule 6.3 (Parental leave) reflects a change in the parental leave entitlement pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/256 to replace the current maternity, paternity and adoption leave provisions with a parental leave provision of 16 weeks for all parents; and to provide an additional period of 10 weeks for the parent who gives birth.

1.9      Provisional rule 7.2 (Official travel of staff members and their eligible family members), paragraph (c), allows staff members and their eligible family members to repatriate to either the place of recruitment or the recognized place of home leave, provided that the staff members hold an appointment other than a temporary one and regardless of the duration of their appointment of service with the Organization.

1.10   Provisional rule 7.3 (Dates, mode, route and standard of travel), paragraph (f), reflects that, for all official travel by air, the Deputy Secretary-General, the Under-Secretaries-General and the Assistant Secretaries-General and their eligible family members shall be provided with a standard of travel immediately below first class in accordance with General Assembly resolution 72/262 B, unless economy class transportation is otherwise provided for under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

1.11   Under provisional rule 9.8 (Termination indemnity), paragraph (c), a termination indemnity is payable to staff members whose normal age of retirement is 60 or 62 and whose appointments are terminated as a result of abolition of posts or reduction of staff prior to their mandatory age of separation of 65 years. This is a direct consequence of implementing the new mandatory age of separation of 65 years effective 1 January 2018 as decided by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/244 .

1.12   By its resolution 77/256 , the General Assembly approved an update of the salary scale and pay protection points for staff in the Professional and higher categories, as set out in annex I to the Staff Regulations.

1.13   The salary scale and pay protection measures for staff in the Field Service category as set out in appendix A to the Staff Rules, were updated pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/256 .

                         Section 2

                         Final provisions

2.1      The provisional Rules shall remain provisional until the requirements of staff regulations 12.3 and 12.4 have been met.

2.2      The present bulletin supersedes Secretary-General’s bulletin ST/SGB/2018/1/Rev.2 .

( Signed ) António Guterres

Secretary-General

                         Charter of the United Nations

                         Provisions relating to service of the staff

                         Article 8

            The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs.

                         Article 97

            The Secretariat shall comprise a Secretary-General and such staff as the Organization may require. The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. He shall be the chief administrative officer of the Organization.

                         Article 100

            1.        In the performance of their duties, the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any Government or from any other authority external to the Organization. They shall refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Organization.

            2.        Each Member of the United Nations undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

                         Article 101

            1.        The staff shall be appointed by the Secretary-General under regulations established by the General Assembly.

            2.        Appropriate staffs shall be permanently assigned to the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and, as required, to other organs of the United Nations. These staffs shall form a part of the Secretariat.

            3.        The paramount consideration in the employment of the staff and in the determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

                         Article 105

            1.        The Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each of its Members such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the fulfilment of its purposes.

            2.        Representatives of the Members of the United Nations and officials of the Organization shall similarly enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Organization.

            3.        The General Assembly may make recommendations with a view to determining the details of the application of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article or may propose conventions to the Members of the United Nations for this purpose.

                         Earlier amendments to the Staff Regulations

            The General Assembly established the Staff Regulations of the United Nations according to Article 101 of the Charter by resolution 590 (VI) of 2 February 1952 and amended them thereafter by resolutions 781 (VIII) and 782 (VIII) of 9 December 1953, resolution 882 (IX) of 14 December 1954, resolution 887 (IX) of 17 December 1954, resolution 974 (X) of 15 December 1955, resolution 1095 (XI) of 27 February 1957, resolutions 1225 (XII) and 1234 (XII) of 14 December 1957, resolution 1295 (XIII) of 5 December 1958, resolution 1658 (XVI) of 28 November 1961, resolution 1730 (XVI) of 20 December 1961, resolution 1929 (XVIII) of 11 December 1963, resolution 2050 (XX) of 13 December 1965, resolution 2121 (XX) of 21 December 1965, resolution 2369 (XXII) of 19 December 1967, resolutions 2481 (XXIII) and 2485 (XXIII) of 21 December 1968, resolution 2742 (XXV) of 17 December 1970, resolution 2888 (XXVI) of 21 December 1971, resolution 2990 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, resolution 3008 (XXVII) of 18 December 1972, resolution 3194 (XXVIII) of 18 December 1973, resolutions 3353 (XXIX) and 3358 B (XXIX) of 18 December 1974, resolution 31/141 B of 17 December 1976, resolution 32/200 and decision 32/450 B of 21 December 1977, resolution 33/119 of 19 December 1978, decision 33/433 of 20 December 1978, resolution 35/214 of 17 December 1980, decision 36/459 of 18 December 1981, resolution 37/126 of 17 December 1982, resolution 37/235 C of 21 December 1982, resolution 39/69 of 13 December 1984, resolutions 39/236 and 39/245 of 18 December 1984, decision 40/467 of 18 December 1985, resolutions 41/207 and 41/209 of 11 December 1986, resolutions 42/221 and 42/225 of 21 December 1987, resolution 43/226 of 21 December 1988, resolution 44/185 of 19 December 1989, resolution 44/198 of 21 December 1989, resolutions 45/241 and 45/251 of 21 December 1990, resolution 45/259 of 3 May 1991, resolution 46/191 of 20 December 1991, resolution 47/216 of 12 March 1993, resolution 47/226 of 30 April 1993, resolutions 48/224 and 48/225 of 23 December 1993, resolutions 49/222 and 49/223 of 23 December 1994, resolution 49/241 of 6 April 1995, resolution 51/216 of 18 December 1996, resolution 52/216 of 22 December 1997, resolution 52/225 of 4 February 1998, resolution 52/252 of 8 September 1998, resolution 54/238 and decision 54/460 of 23 December 1999, resolution 55/223 of 23 December 2000, resolution 55/258 of 14 June 2001, resolution 56/244 of 24 December 2001, resolution 57/285 of 20 December 2002, resolution 57/310 of 18 June 2003, resolution 58/265 of 23 December 2003, resolution 59/268 of 23 December 2004, resolutions 60/238 and 60/248 of 23 December 2005, resolution 61/239 of 22 December 2006, resolution 62/227 of 22 December 2007, resolution 63/271 of 7 April 2009, resolution 65/248 of 23 December 2010, resolutions 67/254 A and 67/255 of 12 April 2013, resolutions 68/252 and 68/253 of 27 December 2013, resolution 70/244 of 23 December 2015, resolution 70/256 of 1 April 2016, resolution 71/263 of 23 December 2016, resolution 72/254 of 24 December 2017, resolution 73/273 of 22 December 2018, resolution 74/255 B of 27 December 2019, resolution 75/245 of 31 December 2020, resolution 76/240 of 24 December 2021 and resolution 77/256 of 30 December 2022.

Annexes to the Staff Regulations

Appendices to the Staff Rules

                         Staff Regulations of the United Nations

                         Scope and purpose

            The Staff Regulations embody the fundamental conditions of service and the basic rights, duties and obligations of the United Nations Secretariat. They represent the broad principles of human resources policy for the staffing and administration of the Secretariat. For the purposes of these Regulations, the expressions “United Nations Secretariat”, “staff members” or “staff” shall refer to all the staff members of the Secretariat, within the meaning of Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations, whose employment and contractual relationship are defined by a letter of appointment subject to regulations promulgated by the General Assembly pursuant to Article 101, paragraph 1, of the Charter. The Secretary-General, as the chief administrative officer, shall provide and enforce such staff rules consistent with these principles as the Secretary-General considers necessary.

                         Article I

                         Duties, obligations and privileges

                         Regulation 1.1

                         Status of staff

            (a)       Staff members are international civil servants. Their responsibilities as staff members are not national but exclusively international;

            (b)       Staff members shall make the following written declaration witnessed by the Secretary-General or his or her authorized representative:

                        “I solemnly declare and promise to exercise in all loyalty, discretion and conscience the functions entrusted to me as an international civil servant of the United Nations, to discharge these functions and regulate my conduct with the interests of the United Nations only in view, and not to seek or accept instructions in regard to the performance of my duties from any Government or other source external to the Organization.

                        “I also solemnly declare and promise to respect the obligations incumbent upon me as set out in the Staff Regulations and Rules.”

            (c)       The Secretary-General shall ensure that the rights and duties of staff members, as set out in the Charter and the Staff Regulations and Rules and in the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, are respected;

            (d)       The Secretary-General shall seek to ensure that the paramount consideration in the determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing staff of the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity;

            (e)       The Staff Regulations apply to all staff at all levels, including staff of the separately funded organs, holding appointments under the Staff Rules;

            (f)        The privileges and immunities enjoyed by the United Nations by virtue of Article 105 of the Charter are conferred in the interests of the Organization. These privileges and immunities furnish no excuse to the staff members who are covered by them to fail to observe laws and police regulations of the State in which they are located, nor do they furnish an excuse for non-performance of their private obligations. In any case where an issue arises regarding the application of these privileges and immunities, the staff member shall immediately report the matter to the Secretary-General, who alone may decide whether such privileges and immunities exist and whether they shall be waived in accordance with the relevant instruments.

                         Regulation 1.2

                         Basic rights and obligations of staff

                         Core values

            (a)       Staff members shall uphold and respect the principles set out in the Charter, including faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women. Consequently, staff members shall exhibit respect for all cultures; they shall not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals or otherwise abuse the power and authority vested in them;

            (b)       Staff members shall uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The concept of integrity includes, but is not limited to, probity, impartiality, fairness, honesty and truthfulness in all matters affecting their work and status;

                         General rights and obligations

            (c)       Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations. In exercising this authority, the Secretary-General shall seek to ensure, having regard to the circumstances, that all necessary safety and security arrangements are made for staff carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to them;

            (d)       In the performance of their duties staff members shall neither seek nor accept instructions from any Government or from any other source external to the Organization;

            (e)       By accepting appointment, staff members pledge themselves to discharge their functions and regulate their conduct with the interests of the Organization only in view. Loyalty to the aims, principles and purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in its Charter, is a fundamental obligation of all staff members by virtue of their status as international civil servants;

            (f)        While staff members’ personal views and convictions, including their political and religious convictions, remain inviolable, staff members shall ensure that those views and convictions do not adversely affect their official duties or the interests of the United Nations. They shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting their status as international civil servants and shall not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the proper discharge of their duties with the United Nations. They shall avoid any action and, in particular, any kind of public pronouncement that may adversely reflect on their status, or on the integrity, independence and impartiality that are required by that status;

            (g)       Staff members shall not use their office or knowledge gained from their official functions for private gain, financial or otherwise, or for the private gain of any third party, including family, friends and those they favour. Nor shall staff members use their office for personal reasons to prejudice the positions of those they do not favour;

            (h)       Staff members may exercise the right to vote but shall ensure that their participation in any political activity is consistent with, and does not reflect adversely upon, the independence and impartiality required by their status as international civil servants;

            (i)        Staff members shall exercise the utmost discretion with regard to all matters of official business. They shall not communicate to any Government, entity, person or any other source any information known to them by reason of their official position that they know or ought to have known has not been made public, except as appropriate in the normal course of their duties or by authorization of the Secretary-General. These obligations do not cease upon separation from service;

                         Honours, gifts or remuneration

            (j)        No staff member shall accept any honour, decoration, favour, gift or remuneration from any Government;

            (k)       If refusal of an unanticipated honour, decoration, favour or gift from a Government would cause embarrassment to the Organization, the staff member may receive it on behalf of the Organization and then report and entrust it to the Secretary-General, who will either retain it for the Organization or arrange for its disposal for the benefit of the Organization or for a charitable purpose;

            (l)        No staff member shall accept any honour, decoration, favour, gift or remuneration from any non-governmental source without first obtaining the approval of the Secretary-General;

                         Conflict of interest

            (m)     A conflict of interest occurs when, by act or omission, a staff member’s personal interests interfere with the performance of his or her official duties and responsibilities or with the integrity, independence and impartiality required by the staff member’s status as an international civil servant. When an actual or possible conflict of interest does arise, the conflict shall be disclosed by staff members to their head of office, mitigated by the Organization and resolved in favour of the interests of the Organization;

            (n)       All staff members at the D-1 level and above shall be required to file financial disclosure statements on appointment and at intervals thereafter as prescribed by the Secretary-General, in respect of themselves, their spouses and their dependent children, and to assist the Secretary-General in verifying the accuracy of the information submitted when so requested. The financial disclosure statements shall include certification that the assets and economic activities of the staff members, their spouses and their dependent children do not pose a conflict of interest with their official duties or the interests of the United Nations. The financial disclosure statements will remain confidential and will only be used, as prescribed by the Secretary-General, in making determinations pursuant to staff regulation 1.2 (m). The Secretary-General may require other staff to file financial disclosure statements as he or she deems necessary in the interest of the Organization;

                         Outside employment and activities

            (o)       Staff members shall not engage in any outside occupation or employment, whether remunerated or not, without the approval of the Secretary-General;

            (p)       The Secretary-General may authorize staff members to engage in an outside occupation or employment, whether remunerated or not, if:

            (i)        The outside occupation or employment does not conflict with the staff member’s official functions or the status of an international civil servant;

            (ii)       The outside occupation or employment is not against the interest of the United Nations; and

            (iii)      The outside occupation or employment is permitted by local law at the duty station or where the occupation or employment occurs;

                         Use of property and assets

            (q)       Staff members shall use the property and assets of the Organization only for official purposes and shall exercise reasonable care when utilizing such property and assets;

            (r)        Staff members must respond fully to requests for information from staff members and other officials of the Organization authorized to investigate the possible misuse of funds, waste or abuse.

                         Regulation 1.3

                         Performance of staff

            (a)       Staff members are accountable to the Secretary-General for the proper discharge of their functions. Staff members are required to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity in the discharge of their functions. Their performance will be appraised periodically to ensure that the required standards of performance are met;

            (b)       The whole time of staff members shall be at the disposal of the Secretary-General for the performance of official functions. The Secretary-General shall establish a normal working week and shall establish official holidays for each duty station. Exceptions may be made by the Secretary-General as the needs of the service may require, and staff members shall be required to work beyond the normal tour of duty when requested to do so.

                         Chapter I

                        

                         Rule 1.1

            (a)       The declaration made by a staff member on appointment pursuant to staff regulation 1.1 (b) shall be placed in the staff member’s official status file. A new declaration shall be made after a break in service that exceeds three months.

            (b)       The declaration administered under staff regulation 1.1 (b) shall not prevent the close collaboration of staff with a Government pursuant to an agreement between the Government and the United Nations.

                         Rule 1.2

                         General

            (a)       Staff members shall follow the directions and instructions properly issued by the Secretary-General and by their supervisors.

            (b)       Staff members must comply with local laws and honour their private legal obligations, including, but not limited to, the obligation to honour orders of competent courts.

            (c)       Staff members have a duty to report any breach of the Organization’s regulations and rules to the officials who are responsible for taking appropriate action. Staff members shall cooperate with duly authorized audits and investigations. Staff members shall not be retaliated against for complying with these duties.

            (d)       Disciplinary procedures may be instituted against staff members who fail to comply with their obligations and the standards of conduct set out in the Charter of the United Nations, the Staff Regulations and Rules, the Financial Regulations and Rules and administrative issuances.

                         Specific instances of prohibited conduct

            (e)       Both sexual exploitation and sexual abuse are prohibited. Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is prohibited regardless of the age of majority or the age of consent locally. Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defence. The exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex, including sexual favours or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour, is prohibited. United Nations staff members are obliged to create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

            (f)        Any form of discrimination or harassment, including sexual or gender harassment, as well as abuse in any form at the workplace or in connection with work, is prohibited.

            (g)       Staff members shall not disrupt or otherwise interfere with any meeting or other official activity of the Organization, including activity in connection with the administration of justice system, nor shall staff members threaten, intimidate or otherwise engage in any conduct intended, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the ability of other staff members to discharge their official functions. Staff members shall not threaten, retaliate or attempt to retaliate against such individuals or against staff members exercising their rights and duties under the present Rules.

            (h)       Staff members shall not intentionally misrepresent their functions, official title or the nature of their duties to Member States or to any entities or persons external to the United Nations.

            (i)        Staff members shall not take any of the following actions with malicious intent, or without authorization, or for personal benefit or for the private gain of any third party: alter, destroy, falsify, misplace, abuse or render useless any official document, record, file or data that is intended to be kept as part of the records of the Organization.

            (j)        Staff members shall not seek to influence Member States, principal or subsidiary organs of the United Nations or expert groups in order to obtain a change from a position or decision taken by the Secretary-General, including decisions relating to the financing of the Organization’s activities, or in order to secure support for improving their personal situation or the personal situation of other staff members or for blocking or reversing unfavourable decisions regarding their status or their colleagues’ status.

            (k)       Staff members shall neither offer nor promise any favour, gift, remuneration or any other personal benefit to another staff member or to any third party with a view to causing that staff member or third party to perform, fail to perform or delay the performance of any official act. Similarly, staff members shall neither seek nor accept any favour, gift, remuneration or any other personal benefit from another staff member or from any third party in exchange for performing, failing to perform or delaying the performance of any official act.

            (l)        Acceptance by staff members of any honour, decoration, favour, gift or remuneration from non-governmental sources requires the prior approval of the Secretary-General. Approval shall be granted only in exceptional cases and where such acceptance is not incompatible with the interests of the Organization and with the staff member’s status as an international civil servant. If circumstances do not allow for prior approval or if refusal of an unanticipated honour, decoration, favour or gift, including a minor gift of essentially nominal value, would cause embarrassment to the Organization, staff members may receive it on behalf of the Organization provided that it is reported and entrusted to the Secretary-General through established procedures.

            (m)     The Secretary-General may authorize staff members to accept from a non‑governmental source or a university or a related institution, academic awards, distinctions and tokens of a commemorative or honorary character, such as scrolls, certificates, trophies or other items of essentially nominal monetary value.

            (n)       Staff members, as part of their official functions, will be expected from time to time to attend governmental or other functions such as meetings, conferences, meals and diplomatic receptions. Such attendance is not considered receipt of a favour, gift or remuneration within the meaning of the Staff Regulations and Rules.

            (o)       Staff members shall not accept any gift, remuneration or favour from any source having or seeking to have any type of contractual relationship with the Organization.

            (p)      Staff members shall, except as otherwise authorized by the Secretary-General, formally recuse themselves from any involvement in a matter which might give rise to an actual or possible conflict of interest as set out in staff regulation 1.2 (m) and take any other action as may be deemed necessary pending the consideration by the Organization of any mitigation or remediation measures. Staff members shall implement the mitigation or remediation prescribed by the Organization to resolve that conflict of interest situation.

            (q)       Pursuant to staff regulation 1.2 (n), the Secretary-General shall establish procedures for the filing and utilization of financial disclosure statements.

            (r)        Staff members shall not, except in the normal course of official duties or with the prior approval of the Secretary-General, engage in any outside activities that relate to the purpose, activities or interests of the United Nations. Outside activities include but are not limited to:

            (i)        Issuing statements to the press, radio or other agencies of public information;

            (ii)       Accepting speaking engagements;

            (iii)      Taking part in film, theatre, radio or television productions;

            (iv)      Submitting articles, books or other material for publication, or for any electronic dissemination.

Approval may be granted in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (p).

            (s)       Membership in a political party is permitted, provided that such membership does not entail action, or an obligation to take action, by the staff member contrary to staff regulation 1.2 (h). The payment of normal financial contributions to a political party shall not be construed as an activity inconsistent with the principles set out in staff regulation 1.2 (h).

            (t)        The Secretary-General shall establish procedures whereby staff may seek in confidence clarification as to whether proposed outside activities would conflict with their status as international civil servants.

                         Travel and per diem for outside activities

            (u)       Staff members who are authorized by the Secretary-General to participate in activities related to the work of the Organization which are organized by a Government, intergovernmental organization, non-governmental organization or other private source may receive from that organizing entity accommodation, travel and subsistence allowance generally in line with those payable by the United Nations. In such cases the daily subsistence allowance that may otherwise be payable by the United Nations shall be reduced as envisaged by staff rule 7.7 (a).

                         Rule 1.3

                         Employment and accessibility for staff members with disabilities

Staff members with disabilities shall enjoy an accessible, non-discriminatory and inclusive workplace, as well as the right to reasonable accommodation, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                       Rule 1.4

            (a)       Staff members shall be evaluated for their efficiency, competence and integrity through performance appraisal mechanisms that shall assess the staff member’s compliance with the standards set out in the Staff Regulations and Rules for purposes of accountability.

            (b)       The Secretary-General shall seek to ensure that appropriate learning and development programmes are available for the benefit of staff.

            (c)       Performance appraisals shall be conducted regularly for all staff members, including at the Assistant Secretary-General level and above, in accordance with procedures promulgated by the Secretary-General.

                        Rule 1.5

                         Notification by staff members and obligation to supply information

            (a)       Staff members shall supply the Secretary-General with relevant information, as required, both during the application process and on subsequent employment, for the purpose of determining their status under the Staff Regulations and Rules as well as for the purpose of completing administrative arrangements in connection with their employment. Staff members shall be held personally accountable for the accuracy and completeness of the information they provide.

            (b)       Staff members shall promptly notify the Secretary-General, in writing, of any subsequent changes affecting their status or administrative arrangements under the Staff Regulations or Staff Rules.

            (c)       Staff members who intend to acquire permanent residence status in any country other than that of their nationality or who intend to change their nationality shall notify the Secretary-General of that intention before the change in residence status or the change in nationality becomes final.

            (d)       Staff members who have been arrested, charged with an offence other than a minor traffic violation or summoned before a court as a defendant in a criminal proceeding, or who have been convicted, fined or imprisoned for any offence other than a minor traffic violation shall immediately report the fact to the Secretary-General.

            (e)       Staff members may at any time be required by the Secretary-General to supply information concerning facts anterior to their appointment and relevant to their suitability or concerning facts relevant to their integrity, conduct and service as staff members.

                         Rule 1.6

                         Staff member’s beneficiaries

            (a)       At the time of appointment, each staff member shall nominate a beneficiary or beneficiaries in writing in a form prescribed by the Secretary-General. It shall be the responsibility of the staff member to notify the Secretary-General of any revocations or changes of beneficiaries.

            (b)       In the event of the death of a staff member, all amounts due to the staff member will be paid to the nominated beneficiary or beneficiaries, subject to application of the Staff Regulations and Rules and of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. Such payment shall afford the United Nations a complete release from all further liability in respect of any sum so paid.

            (c)       If a nominated beneficiary does not survive, or if a designation of beneficiary has not been made or has been revoked, the amount due to the staff member will, upon the staff member’s death, be paid to the estate of the staff member.

                         Rule 1.7

                         Financial responsibility

            Staff members shall exercise reasonable care in any matter affecting the financial interests of the Organization, its physical and human resources, property and assets.

                         Rule 1.8

                         Liability insurance

            Staff members who own or drive motor cars shall carry public liability and property damage insurance in an amount adequate to insure them against claims arising from injury or death to other persons or from damage to the property of others caused by their cars.

                         Rule 1.9

                         Proprietary rights

            All rights, including title, copyright and patent rights, in any work performed by staff members as part of their official duties shall be vested in the United Nations.

                         Article II

                         Classification of posts and staff

                         Regulation 2.1

            In conformity with principles laid down by the General Assembly, the Secretary-General shall make appropriate provision for the classification of posts and staff according to the nature of the duties and responsibilities required.

                         Chapter II

                         Rule 2.1

                         Classification of posts

            (a)       Posts other than those of Deputy Secretary-General, Under-Secretaries-General and Assistant Secretaries-General shall be classified in categories and level according to standards established by the International Civil Service Commission or by the Secretary-General, as applicable.

            (b)       Each post shall be assigned to a suitable level in any of the following categories: Professional and higher categories, Field Service category, General Service and related categories, including but not limited to National Professional Officers, Trades and Crafts and Security Service categories.

                         Article III

                         Salaries and related allowances

                         Regulation 3.1

            Salaries of staff members shall be fixed by the Secretary-General in accordance with the provisions of annex I to the present Regulations.

                         Regulation 3.2

            (a)       The Secretary-General shall establish terms and conditions under which an education grant shall be available to a staff member residing and serving outside his or her recognized home country whose dependent child is in full-time attendance at a school, university or similar educational institution of a type that will, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, facilitate the child’s reassimilation in the staff member’s recognized home country. The grant shall be payable in respect of the child up to the end of the school year in which the child completes four years of post-secondary studies or attains a first post-secondary degree, whichever comes first, subject to the upper age limit of 25 years. Admissible expenses actually incurred shall be reimbursed based on a sliding scale, subject to a maximum grant as approved by the General Assembly. Under conditions established by the Secretary-General, travel costs for the child of a staff member in receipt of assistance with boarding expenses and attending school at the primary and secondary levels may also be paid for an outward and return journey once in each scholastic year between the educational institution and the duty station. Such travel shall be by a route approved by the Secretary-General but not in an amount exceeding the cost of such a journey between the home country and the duty station;

            (b)       Under conditions established by the Secretary-General, assistance for boarding-related expenses shall be provided to staff members serving in duty stations other than those classified as headquarters duty stations and whose children are boarding to attend school outside the duty station at the primary and secondary levels, at an amount approved by the General Assembly. The Secretary-General may establish conditions under which boarding assistance may exceptionally be granted to staff members serving at headquarters duty stations whose children are boarding to attend school outside the duty station at the primary and secondary levels;

            (c)       The Secretary-General shall also establish terms and conditions under which an education grant shall be available to a staff member serving in a country whose language is different from his or her own and who is obliged to pay tuition for the teaching of the mother tongue to a dependent child attending a local school in which the instruction is given in a language other than his or her own;

            (d)       The Secretary-General shall also establish terms and conditions under which an education grant shall be available to a staff member whose child is unable, by reason of physical or mental disability, to attend a normal educational institution and therefore requires special teaching or training to prepare him or her for full integration into society or, while attending a normal educational institution, requires special teaching or training to assist him or her in overcoming the disability. The amount of this grant per year for each disabled child shall be equal to 100 per cent of the education expenses actually incurred, up to a maximum amount approved by the General Assembly.

                         Regulation 3.3

            (a)       An assessment at the rates and under the conditions specified below shall be applied to the salaries and such other emoluments of staff members as are computed on the basis of salary, excluding post adjustments, provided that the Secretary-General may, where he or she deems it advisable, exempt from the assessment the salaries and emoluments of staff members engaged at locality rates;

            (b)       (i)        The assessment shall be calculated at the following rates for staff members whose salary rates are set forth in paragraphs 1 and 3 of annex I to the present Regulations:

                         Staff assessment rates used in conjunction with pensionable remuneration and pensions (effective 1 January 2019)

                         Staff assessment rates used in conjunction with gross base salaries (effective 1 January 2017)

            (ii)       The assessment shall be calculated at the following rates for staff members whose salary rates are established under paragraph 7 of annex I to the present Regulations:

            (iii)      The Secretary-General shall determine which of the scales of assessment set out in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) above shall apply to each of the groups of personnel whose salary rates are established under paragraph 6 of annex I to the present Regulations;

            (iv)      In the case of staff members whose salary scales are established in currencies other than United States dollars, the relevant amounts to which the assessment applies shall be fixed at the local currency equivalent of the above-mentioned dollar amounts at the time the salary scales of the staff member concerned are approved;

            (c)       In the case of a person who is not employed by the United Nations for the whole of a calendar year or in cases where there is a change in the annual rate of payments made to a staff member, the rate of assessment shall be governed by the annual rate of each such payment made to him or her;

            (d)       The assessment computed under the foregoing provisions of the present regulation shall be collected by the United Nations by withholding it from payments. No part of the assessment so collected shall be refunded because of cessation of employment during the calendar year;

            (e)       Revenue derived from staff assessment not otherwise disposed of by specific resolution of the General Assembly shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund established by Assembly resolution 973 A (X);

            (f)        Where a staff member is subject both to staff assessment under this plan and to national income taxation in respect of the salaries and emoluments paid to him or her by the United Nations, the Secretary-General is authorized to refund to him or her the amount of staff assessment collected from him or her provided that:

            (i)        The amount of such refund shall in no case exceed the amount of his or her income taxes paid and payable in respect of his or her United Nations income. The amount of such refund shall not include tax credits applied to income taxes paid and payable in respect of his or her United Nations income;

            (ii)       If the amount of such income taxes exceeds the amount of staff assessment, the Secretary-General may also pay to the staff member the amount of such excess;

            (iii)      Payments made in accordance with the provisions of the present regulation shall be charged to the Tax Equalization Fund;

            (iv)      A payment under the conditions prescribed in the three preceding subparagraphs is authorized in respect of dependency benefits and post adjustments, which are not subject to staff assessment but may be subject to national income taxation.

                         Regulation 3.4

            Staff members whose salary rates are set forth in paragraphs 1 and 3 of annex I to the present Regulations shall be entitled to receive a dependent spouse allowance in the amount of 6 per cent of net base salary plus post adjustment, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Regulation 3.5

            Staff members without a spouse whose salary rates are set forth in paragraphs 1 and 3 of annex I to the present Regulations shall be entitled to a single parent allowance in respect of the first dependent child in the amount of 6 per cent of net base salary plus post adjustment, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Regulation 3.6

            (a)       Staff members whose salary rates are set forth in paragraphs 1 and 3 of annex I to the present Regulations shall be entitled to receive dependency allowances for a dependent child, for a disabled child and for a secondary dependant at rates approved by the General Assembly as follows:

            (i)        The staff member shall receive an allowance for each dependent child, except that the allowance shall not be paid in respect of the first dependent child if the staff member receives a single parent allowance under regulation 3.5;

            (ii)       The staff member shall receive a special allowance for each disabled child. However, if the staff member is entitled to the single parent allowance under regulation 3.5 in respect of a disabled child, the allowance shall be the same as the allowance for a dependent child in subparagraph (i) above;

            (iii)      Where there is no dependent spouse, a single annual allowance shall be paid for a secondary dependant in respect of either a dependent parent, a dependent brother or a dependent sister;

            (b)       If both husband and wife are staff members, one may claim, for dependent children, under subparagraph (a) (i) and (ii) above, in which case the other may claim only under subparagraph (a) (iii) above, if otherwise entitled;

            (c)       With a view to avoiding duplication of benefits and in order to achieve equality between staff members who receive dependency benefits under applicable laws in the form of governmental grants and staff members who do not receive such dependency benefits, the Secretary-General shall prescribe conditions under which the dependency allowance for a child specified in subparagraph (a) (i) above and regulation 3.5 shall be payable only to the extent that the dependency benefits enjoyed by the staff member or his or her spouse under applicable laws amount to less than such a dependency allowance;

            (d)       Staff members whose salary rates are set by the Secretary-General under paragraph 6 or paragraph 7 of annex I to the present Regulations shall be entitled to receive dependency allowances at rates and under conditions determined by the Secretary-General, due regard being given to the circumstances in the locality in which the office is located;

            (e)       Claims for dependency allowances shall be submitted in writing and supported by evidence satisfactory to the Secretary-General. A separate claim for dependency allowances shall be made each year.

                         Chapter III

                         Rule 3.1

                         Salary scales

            (a)       The Secretary-General shall publish the salary scales, pensionable remuneration and conditions of salary increments for all categories of staff members.

            (b)       The Secretary-General may establish special conditions of employment applicable to language staff in the Professional category appointed for specific temporary assignments.

            (c)       The transitional measures governing the salary scales and pensionable remuneration are subject to the provisions of staff rule 13.1 (Salary scales).

                         Rule 3.2

                         Salary step increments

            (a)       Satisfactory service for the purpose of awarding a salary step increment shall be defined, unless otherwise decided by the Secretary-General in any particular case, by satisfactory performance and conduct of staff members.

            (b)       Salary step increments shall be effective on the first day of the pay period in which the service requirements are completed. No step increment shall be paid in the case of staff members whose services will cease during the month in which the step increment would otherwise have been due.

            (c)       If a staff member with satisfactory service changes level downwards, the period of service since the last step increment shall be credited towards the next step increment within the lower level.

            (d)      If a staff member whose service has not been satisfactory is demoted to a lower level, the staff member’s eligibility for salary step increment in the lower level will be based on satisfactory service at the lower level.

                         Rule 3.3

                         Salary policy

            (a)       On appointment, or on selection to a different category, staff members shall normally be placed at the first step of the level of their post, unless otherwise decided by the Secretary-General.

            (b)       On selection for a new position at a higher level within the same category, staff members who hold a fixed-term or a continuing appointment shall be placed at the lowest step of the level to which they have been assigned that provides an increase in net base salary equal to at least the amount that would have resulted from the granting of two steps at the lower level, unless otherwise decided by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 3.4

                         Pensionable remuneration

            (a)       The definition of pensionable remuneration is set out in article 51 of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

            (b)       The pensionable remuneration of staff members in the Field Service category shall be established in the same manner as for staff in the Professional and higher categories.

            (c)       When a staff member from the General Service and related categories is recruited to the Professional category and this results in a reduction of the pensionable remuneration, the level of pensionable remuneration reached prior to the change in category shall be maintained until it is surpassed by that applicable to the staff member’s grade and step in the Professional category. Contributions payable in accordance with article 25 of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund shall be based on either:

            (i)        The pensionable remuneration of the staff member used to determine such contributions at the time of change in category; or

            (ii)       The pensionable remuneration applicable to the staff member’s grade and step in the Professional category;

whichever is higher.

                         Rule 3.5

                         Dependency allowances

                         Definitions

            (a)       For the purposes of the Staff Regulations and Rules:

            (i)        A “dependent spouse” is a spouse whose earnings, if any, do not exceed the lowest entry level of the United Nations General Service gross salary scales in force on 1 January of the year concerned for the duty station in the country of the spouse’s place of work. In the case of staff in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category, the entry level amount referenced shall not at any duty station be less than the equivalent of the lowest entry level salary at the base of the salary system (G-2, step I, for New York);

            (ii)       A “child” is any of the following children for whom the staff member provides main and continuing support:

                        a.        A staff member’s natural or legally adopted child; or

                        b.        A staff member’s stepchild who is residing with the staff member; or

                        c.        A child who cannot be legally adopted, for whom the staff member has legal responsibility and who is residing with the staff member;

            (iii)      A “dependent child” is a child for whom the staff member provides main and continuing support and who meets one of the following criteria:

                        a.        The child is under the age of 18 years;

                        b.        The child is between the ages of 18 and 21 years and attends university or its equivalent full-time; the requirement of residing with the staff member does not apply in this case;

                        c.        The child is of any age and has a disability as medically determined by the Secretary-General as being permanent or for a period that is expected to be long-term that prevents substantial gainful employment;

            (iv)      Staff members claiming a child as a dependant must certify that they provide main and continuous support. This certification must be supported by documentary evidence under conditions established by the Secretary-General, if a child:

                        a.        Does not reside with the staff member;

                        b.        Is married; or

                        c.        Is recognized as a dependant under subparagraph (a) (iii) c. above;

            (v)       A parent or a sibling of a staff member shall be considered as a secondary dependant if the staff member provides such a person with not less than half of that person’s financial resources, and in any case with not less than twice the amount of the dependency allowance. The conditions regarding age, school attendance and disability are the same for a sibling as those applicable to a staff member’s child in subparagraph (iii) above.

                         Amount of dependency allowances

            (b)       The dependency allowances, which are applicable to the different categories of staff, shall be payable in accordance with the applicable rates published by the Secretary-General:

            (i)        Dependent spouse allowance: a dependent spouse allowance in the amount of 6 per cent of net base salary plus post adjustment shall be paid to a staff member in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category with a recognized dependent spouse, under conditions established by the Secretary-General;

            (ii)       Single parent allowance: a staff member in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category recognized as a single parent shall receive a single parent allowance in the amount of 6 per cent of net base salary plus post adjustment in respect of the first dependent child, under conditions established by the Secretary-General. A staff member who receives a single parent allowance in respect of the first dependent child shall not be eligible for payment of a child allowance for that child;

            (iii)      Dependent child allowance: eligible staff members shall receive a dependent child allowance for each recognized dependent child, under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Subject to the provisions of staff regulations 3.5 and 3.6 (a), the full amount of the dependency allowance provided under those regulations and under the Staff Rules in respect of a dependent child shall be payable, except where the staff members or their spouse receives a direct governmental grant in respect of the same child. Where such a governmental grant is made, the dependent child allowance or single parent allowance payable under this rule shall be the approximate amount by which the governmental grant is less than the dependent child allowance or single parent allowance set out under the Staff Regulations and Rules. No dependency allowance is payable if the governmental grant is equal to or exceeds the rate set out under the Staff Regulations and Rules;

            (iv)      Secondary dependent allowance: a secondary dependency allowance shall be paid in respect of not more than one secondary dependent and such payment shall not be made when a payment is being made for a dependent spouse. Staff members in the General Service and related categories shall receive a dependency allowance with respect to a secondary dependant when local conditions and/or the practices of comparator employers call for the establishment of such an allowance, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (c)       Staff members shall be responsible for reporting to the Secretary-General any change in the status of a dependant that may affect the payment of dependency allowances.

                         Rule 3.6

                         Post adjustment

            (a)       Post adjustment is an amount paid to staff members serving in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category to ensure equity in purchasing power across duty stations.

            (b)       While the salaries of staff members in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category are normally subject to the post adjustment of their duty station during assignments for one year or more, alternative arrangements may be made by the Secretary-General under the following circumstances:

            (i)        When staff members are assigned to a duty station whose post adjustment classification is lower than that of their previous duty station, they may continue to receive for up to six months the post adjustment applicable to the previous duty station while at least one member of their immediate family (spouse and children) remains at that duty station;

            (ii)       When staff members are assigned for three months or less to a United Nations field mission or for less than six months elsewhere, the Secretary-General shall decide whether to apply the post adjustment applicable to the duty station and to pay entitlements applicable when there is a change of official duty station or, in lieu of the above, to authorize appropriate payments of the daily subsistence allowance.

                         Rule 3.7

                         Rental subsidy

            (a)       Internationally recruited staff members who incur higher-than-average rent costs for reasonable standard accommodations will be paid a supplement to the post adjustment in the form of a rental subsidy under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (b)       When staff members are assigned to a new duty station and they continue to receive the post adjustment of the previous duty station under the provisions of staff rule 3.6 (b) (i), they may claim the previous post adjustment and rental subsidy applicable to the previous duty station for up to six months while at least one member of their immediate family (spouse and children) remains at that duty station.

                         Rule 3.8

                         Language allowance

            (a)       Staff members in the General Service, Security Service or Trades and Crafts category, or in the Field Service category up to and including the FS-5 level, holding a fixed-term or a continuing appointment may be entitled to a pensionable language allowance, under rates and conditions determined by the Secretary-General, provided that they have demonstrated proficiency in two or more United Nations official languages as follows:

            (i)        Staff members whose mother tongue is one of the official languages of the United Nations must successfully pass the prescribed test in any other official United Nations language, which may be the language in which proficiency is required for the purpose of their appointment;

            (ii)       Staff members whose mother tongue is not one of the official United Nations languages must successfully pass the prescribed test in any official United Nations language other than the one in which proficiency is required for the purpose of their appointment.

            (b)       Staff members already in receipt of a language allowance under paragraph (a) above shall be entitled to receive a second such pensionable allowance, equal to half of the amount of the first, provided that they have demonstrated proficiency by passing the prescribed test in a third official language.

            (c)       The language allowance shall be taken into account in determining United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, medical and group insurance contributions; overtime and night differential compensation; and payments and indemnities on separation.

                         Rule 3.9

                         Education grant

            (a)       For the purposes of the present rule:

            (i)        “Child” means a child of a staff member who is dependent on the staff member for main and continuing support as defined in staff rule 3.5 (a) (ii) and 3.5 (a) (iii);

            (ii)       “Child with a disability” means a child who has been medically determined by the Secretary-General as being unable, for reasons of physical or mental disability, to attend a regular educational institution and who requires special teaching or training to prepare the child for full integration into society or, while attending a regular educational institution, who requires special teaching or training to assist the child in overcoming the disability;

            (iii)      “Home country” means the country of home leave of the staff member under staff rule 5.4 (Home leave). If both parents are eligible staff members, “home country” means the country of home leave of either parent;

            (iv)      “Duty station” means the country, or area within commuting distance notwithstanding national boundaries, where the staff member is serving.

                         Eligibility

            (b)       Subject to conditions established by the Secretary-General, a staff member who holds a fixed-term or a continuing appointment shall be entitled to an education grant in respect of each child, provided that:

            (i)        The staff members are regarded as international recruits under staff rule 4.5 (Staff in posts subject to international recruitment) and reside and serves at a duty station which is outside their home country; and

            (ii)       The child is in full-time attendance at a school, university or similar educational institution.

            (c)       Notwithstanding the eligibility criteria set out in paragraph (b) above, if staff members eligible to receive the education grant are reassigned to a duty station within their home country in the course of a school year, they may receive the education grant for the balance of that school year under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Duration

            (d)       The duration as regulated under staff regulation 3.2 on the education grant may be extended if the child’s education is interrupted for at least one school year by mandatory national service, illness or other compelling reasons. In such cases, the period of eligibility shall be extended by the period of interruption.

                         Amount of grant

            (e)       The amount to which a staff member may be entitled under the grant is set out in appendix B to the present Rules.

            (f)        The amount of the grant to be paid when the staff member’s period of service or the child’s school attendance does not cover the full school year shall be prorated under conditions established by the Secretary-General. If a staff member in receipt of the education grant dies while in service during the school year, the full entitlement for that particular school year shall be granted.

                         Travel

            (g)       When a staff member is entitled to boarding assistance in respect of a child under paragraph (ii) or (iii) of appendix B to the present Rules, the staff member shall be entitled to travel expenses for the child for one outward and return journey each scholastic year between the educational institution and the duty station, under conditions established by the Secretary-General. If travel to the duty station by the child is not possible, one outward and return journey by the staff member or spouse may be authorized in lieu of travel by the child, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Special education grant for a child with a disability

            (h)       A special education grant for a child with a disability shall be available to staff members in all categories, whether serving in their home country or not, provided that they hold a fixed-term or a continuing appointment. The amount to which a staff member is entitled under the grant is set out in appendix B to the present Rules, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Claims

            (i)        Education grant claims shall be made in accordance with conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 3.10

                         Special post allowance

            (a)       Staff members shall be expected to assume temporarily, as a normal part of their customary work and without extra compensation, the duties and responsibilities of higher-level posts.

            (b)       Without prejudice to the principle that selection to a higher-level position under staff rule 4.15 (Senior review bodies and central review bodies) shall be the normal means of recognizing increased responsibilities and demonstrated ability, staff members holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment who assume the full duties and responsibilities of a post at a clearly recognizable higher level than their own for a temporary period exceeding three months may, in exceptional cases, be granted a non-pensionable special post allowance from the beginning of the fourth month of service at the higher level.

            (c)       In the case of a staff member holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment who is assigned to serve in a mission, or when a staff member in the General Service category is required to serve in a higher-level post in the Professional category, or when a staff member in any category holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment is required to serve in a post which is classified more than one level above the staff member’s level, the allowance may be paid immediately when the staff member assumes the higher duties and responsibilities.

            (d)       The amount of the special post allowance shall be equivalent to the salary increase (including post adjustment and dependency allowances, if any) which the staff member would have received had the staff member been promoted to the next higher level.

                         Rule 3.11

                         Mobility incentive

            (a)       The purpose of the mobility incentive is to encourage movement of staff members to duty stations classified as A to E in accordance with the classification of duty stations established by the International Civil Service Commission.

            (b)       Staff members in the Professional and higher categories, in the Field Service category, and internationally recruited staff in the General Service category pursuant to staff rule 4.5 (c) may be paid a non-pensionable mobility incentive provided that they:

            (i)        Hold a fixed-term or continuing appointment; and

            (ii)       Are on an assignment of one year or more to a new duty station classified as A to E by the International Civil Service Commission; and

            (iii)      Have served for five consecutive years or more on a fixed-term or continuing appointment in the United Nations common system of salaries and allowances.

            (c)      The mobility incentive shall be discontinued upon five continuous years at the same duty station. In the exceptional case of staff members who remained at the same duty station for more than five years at the explicit request of the Organization or for compelling humanitarian reasons, the mobility incentive shall be payable for one additional year, but in no case for more than a total of six years.

            (d)       The amount of the mobility incentive, if any, and the conditions under which it will be paid, shall be determined after taking into account the number of duty stations at which staff members have previously served for a period of one year or longer and the hardship classification of the new duty station to which staff members are assigned.

                         Rule 3.12

                         Hardship allowance

            (a)       The purpose of the hardship allowance is to compensate for the hardship experienced by staff members serving in duty stations classified as B to E by the International Civil Service Commission.

            (b)       Staff in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category, and staff in the General Service category considered internationally recruited pursuant to staff rule 4.5 (c) who are appointed or reassigned to a new duty station may be paid a non-pensionable hardship allowance.

            (c)       The amount of this allowance, if any, and the conditions under which it will be paid shall be determined by the Secretary-General taking into account the degree of difficulty of life and work at each duty station in accordance with the classification of duty stations established by the International Civil Service Commission.

                         Rule 3.13

                         Non-family service allowance

            (a)       The non-family service allowance is an incentive for staff members to undertake assignments at non-family locations and recognizes the increased level of financial and psychological hardship incurred by involuntary separation from their families, including additional service-related costs.

            (b)       Staff in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category and staff in the General Service category considered internationally recruited pursuant to staff rule 4.5 (c) who are appointed or reassigned to a non-family duty station may be paid a non-pensionable non-family service allowance.

            (c)       The amount and conditions under which the allowance will be paid shall be determined by the Secretary-General. When a duty station has been designated as non-family, the presence of eligible family members of the staff member shall not be authorized at the duty station, unless exceptionally approved by the Secretary-General. In no event shall the allowance be payable if the Secretary-General has exceptionally approved the presence of eligible family members of the staff member at the duty station.

                         Rule 3.14

                         Salary advances

            (a)       Salary advances may be made to staff members under the following circumstances and conditions:

            (i)        In cases where new staff members arrive without sufficient funds, in such amount as the Secretary-General may deem appropriate;

            (ii)       In exceptional and compelling circumstances, and if the request of the staff member is supported by a detailed justification in writing.

            (b)       Salary advances shall be recovered at a constant rate as determined at the time the advance is authorized, in consecutive pay periods, commencing not later than the period following that in which the advance is made.

                         Rule 3.15

                         Retroactivity of payments

            (a)       The Organization shall make retroactive payments:

            (i)        In cases where staff members have not received their regular pay, through no fault of their own, in the amount due; and

            (ii)       Upon separation from service, where final settlement of pay accounts cannot be made at the time of departure, subject to the payment not exceeding 80 per cent of the estimated final net payments due;

            (b)       Staff members who have not been receiving an allowance, grant or other payment to which they are entitled shall not receive retroactively such allowance, grant or payment unless the staff members have made a written claim within one year following the date on which the staff member would have been entitled to the initial payment, except in the case of the cancellation or modification of the staff rule governing eligibility, in which case the written claim must be made within three months following the date of such cancellation or modification.

                         Rule 3.16

                         Deductions and contributions

            (a)       Staff assessment shall be deducted, each pay period, from the total payments due to each staff member, at the rates and subject to the conditions prescribed in staff regulation 3.3.

            (b)       Contributions of staff members who are participating in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund shall be deducted, each pay period, from the total payments due to them.

            (c)       The Organization shall take voluntary action to provide effective relief for unpaid family support obligations pursuant to final court orders by making deductions from salaries and other emoluments in respect of the amounts reflected in such final court orders, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (d)       Deductions from salaries and other emoluments may also be made for:

            (i)        Contributions, other than to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, for which provision is made under the present Rules;

            (ii)       Indebtedness to the United Nations;

            (iii)      Indebtedness to other third parties not involving family support court orders when any deduction for this purpose is authorized by the Secretary-General;

            (iv)      Housing provided by the Organization or another entity, including a government or a non-government source, when the housing is either free of charge or with a rental cost substantially lower than the average rent used in calculating the post adjustment index for the duty station;

            (v)       Contributions to a staff representative body established pursuant to staff regulation 8.1 or any other United Nations entity, provided that staff members have the opportunity to withhold their consent to or at any time to discontinue such deduction, by notice to the Secretary-General;

            (vi)      Facilities and service fees applied for use of United Nations premises or services.

                         Rule 3.17

                         Recruitment incentive

            An incentive payment for the recruitment of experts in highly specialized fields in instances in which the Organization was unable to attract suitably qualified personnel may be made under conditions to be prescribed by the Secretary-General. The amount of the recruitment incentive shall not exceed 25 per cent of the annual net base salary for each year of the agreed appointment.

                         Article IV

                         Appointment and promotion

                         Regulation 4.1

            As stated in Article 101 of the Charter, the power of appointment of staff members rests with the Secretary-General. Upon appointment, each staff member, including a staff member on secondment from government service, shall receive a letter of appointment in accordance with the provisions of annex II to the present Regulations and signed by the Secretary-General or by an official in the name of the Secretary-General.

                         Regulation 4.2

            The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer or promotion of the staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. Due regard shall be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

                         Regulation 4.3

            In accordance with the principles of the Charter, selection of staff members shall be made without distinction as to race, sex or religion. So far as practicable, selection shall be made on a competitive basis.

                         Regulation 4.4

            Subject to the provisions of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter, and without prejudice to the recruitment of fresh talent at all levels, the fullest regard shall be had, in filling vacancies, to the requisite qualifications and experience of persons already in the service of the United Nations. This consideration shall also apply, on a reciprocal basis, to the specialized agencies brought into relationship with the United Nations. The Secretary-General may limit eligibility to apply for vacant posts to internal candidates, as defined by the Secretary-General. If so, other candidates shall be allowed to apply, under conditions to be defined by the Secretary-General, when no internal candidate meets the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the post.

                         Regulation 4.5

            (a)       Appointment of Under-Secretaries-General and of Assistant Secretaries-General shall normally be for a period of up to five years, subject to prolongation or renewal. Other staff members shall be granted either a temporary, fixed-term or continuing appointment under such terms and conditions consistent with the present Regulations as the Secretary-General may prescribe;

            (b)       A temporary appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal. A temporary appointment shall not be converted to any other type of appointment;

            (c)       A fixed-term appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal or conversion, irrespective of the length of service;

            (d)       The Secretary-General shall prescribe which staff members are eligible for consideration for continuing appointments.

                         Regulation 4.6

            The Secretary-General shall establish appropriate medical standards that staff members shall be required to meet before appointment.

                         Chapter IV

                         Rule 4.1

                         Letter of appointment

            The letter of appointment issued to every staff member contains expressly or by reference all the terms and conditions of employment. All contractual entitlements of staff members are strictly limited to those contained expressly or by reference in their letters of appointment.

                         Rule 4.2

                         Effective date of appointment

            The effective date of appointment shall be the date on which staff members enter into official travel status to assume their duties or, if no travel is involved, the date on which they report for duty.

                         Rule 4.3

                         Nationality

            (a)       In the application of the Staff Regulations and Rules, the United Nations shall not recognize more than one nationality for each staff member.

            (b)       When a staff member has been legally accorded nationality status by more than one State, the staff member’s nationality for the purposes of Staff Regulations and the Staff Rules shall be the nationality of the State with which the staff member is, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, most closely associated.

                         Rule 4.4

                         Staff in posts subject to local recruitment

            (a)       All staff in the General Service and related categories, except as stipulated in staff rule 4.5 (c), shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. The allowances and benefits available to staff members in the General Service and related categories shall be published by the Secretary-General for each duty station.

            (b)       National Professional Officers should be of the nationality of the country where the office concerned is located. National Professional Officers may be temporarily assigned outside of the country of their employment to a United Nations field mission for a period not exceeding three months or to any other duty station for a period not exceeding six months under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (c)       A staff member subject to local recruitment under this rule shall not be eligible to receive payment of the allowances or benefits available to internationally recruited staff members under staff rule 4.5 (a).

                         Rule 4.5

                         Staff in posts subject to international recruitment

            (a)       Staff members other than those regarded under staff rule 4.4 as having been locally recruited shall be considered as having been internationally recruited. Depending on their type of appointment, the allowances and benefits available to internationally recruited staff members, may include: payment of travel expenses upon initial appointment and on separation for themselves and their spouses and dependent children; relocation shipment; home leave; education grant; and repatriation grant.

            (b)       Staff recruited locally at a duty station for posts in the Professional and higher categories at that specific duty station are considered internationally recruited but would generally not be entitled to some or all of the allowances and benefits mentioned in paragraph (a) above as determined by the Secretary-General.

            (c)       Under special circumstances and conditions determined by the Secretary-General, staff who have been recruited to serve in posts in the General Service and related categories may be considered internationally recruited.

            (d)       Staff members who have changed their residential status in such a way that they may, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, be deemed to be a permanent resident of any country other than that of their nationality may lose entitlement to home leave, education grant, repatriation grant and payment of travel expenses upon separation from service for the staff members and their spouse and dependent children and relocation shipment, based upon place of home leave, if the Secretary-General considers that the continuation of such entitlement would be contrary to the purposes for which the allowance or benefit was created. Conditions governing entitlement to benefits for internationally recruited staff in the light of residential status shall be set by the Secretary-General as applicable to each duty station.

                         Rule 4.6

                         Geographical distribution

            Recruitment on as wide a geographical basis as possible, in accordance with the requirements of staff regulation 4.2, shall not apply to posts in the General Service and related categories.

                         Rule 4.7

                         Family relationships

            (a)       An appointment within the same organization shall not be granted to a person who is the parent, child or sibling of a staff member.

            (b)      Spouses of staff members may be appointed within the same organization provided that the spouses are fully qualified for the post for which they are being considered and that the spouses are not given any preference by virtue of the relationship to the staff members.

            (c)       Staff members who are the spouse, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece or cousin of another staff member:

            (i)        Shall not be assigned to serve in a post which is superior or subordinate in the line of authority to that staff member;

            (ii)       Shall not participate in the process of reaching or reviewing an administrative decision affecting the status or entitlements of that staff member.

            (d)       The marriage of one staff member to another shall not affect the contractual status of either spouse, but their entitlements and other benefits shall be modified as provided in the relevant Staff Regulations and Rules. The same modifications shall apply in the case of a staff member whose spouse is a staff member of another organization participating in the United Nations common system of salaries and allowances. Where both spouses are staff members and maintain separate households because they are assigned to different duty stations, the Secretary-General may decide to maintain such separate entitlements and benefits, provided that this is not inconsistent with any staff regulation or other decision of the General Assembly.

                         Rule 4.8

                         Change of official duty station

            (a)       A change of official duty station shall take place when a staff member is assigned from one duty station to another for a period exceeding six months or when a staff member is transferred for an indefinite period.

            (b)       A change of official duty station shall take place when a staff member is assigned from any duty station to a United Nations field mission for a period exceeding three months.

            (c)       Assignment of staff members from their official duty station for a conference or under staff rule 4.4 (b) shall not constitute a change of official duty station within the meaning of the Staff Rules.

                         Rule 4.9

                         Inter-organization movements

            (a)       Inter-organization movements are defined in and shall be governed by an inter-organization agreement among the organizations applying the United Nations common system of salaries and allowances.

            (b)       The Secretary-General may allow staff members to serve in a specialized agency or other intergovernmental organization, provided that such movement in no way diminishes the rights or entitlements of the staff members under their letter of appointment with the United Nations.

                         Rule 4.10

                         Internal candidates and internal vacancies

            For the purpose of staff regulation 4.4, the expression “internal candidates” means staff members recruited under staff rules 4.15 (Senior review bodies and central review bodies) and 4.16 (Competitive examinations). Vacancies for which eligibility to apply is restricted to such internal candidates shall be referred to as “internal vacancies”. The conditions under which persons other than internal candidates may apply for vacancies shall be defined by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 4.11

                         Types of appointment

            A staff member may be granted a temporary, fixed-term or continuing appointment under staff rules 4.12, 4.13 and 4.14 below.

                         Rule 4.12

                         Temporary appointment

            (a)       A temporary appointment shall be granted for a period of less than one year to meet seasonal or peak workloads and specific short-term requirements, having an expiration date specified in the letter of appointment.

            (b)       The appointment of a staff member who has served for the maximum period as described in paragraph (a) above may be renewed for up to one additional year when warranted by surge requirements and operational needs related to field operations and special projects with finite mandates under circumstances and conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (c)       A temporary appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal. A temporary appointment shall not be converted to any other type of appointment.

                         Rule 4.13

                         Fixed-term appointment

            (a)       A fixed-term appointment may be granted for a period of one year or more, up to five years at a time, to persons recruited for service of a prescribed duration, including persons temporarily seconded by national Governments or institutions for service with the United Nations, having an expiration date specified in the letter of appointment.

            (b)       A fixed-term appointment may be renewed for any period up to five years at a time, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (c)       A fixed-term appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal or conversion, irrespective of the length of service, except as provided under staff rule 4.14 (b).

                         Rule 4.14

                         Continuing appointment

            (a)       A continuing appointment is an open-ended appointment.

            (b)       Staff members recruited in the Professional category upon successful completion of a competitive examination pursuant to staff rule 4.16 shall be granted a continuing appointment after two years on a fixed-term appointment, subject to satisfactory service.

            (c)       The Secretary-General shall prescribe the criteria determining staff members’ eligibility for consideration for continuing appointments.

                         Rule 4.15

                         Senior review bodies and central review bodies

                         Senior review bodies

            (a)       Senior review bodies shall be established by the Secretary-General to review and provide advice on recommendations for the selection and managed mobility of senior staff. The Secretary-General shall decide on the membership and shall publish the rules of procedure of the senior review bodies.

                         Central review bodies

            (b)       Central review bodies shall be established by the Secretary-General to review and provide advice on recommendations for selection of staff regarding positions of a duration of one year or longer in the Professional and higher categories up to the D-1 level, the Field Service category and the General Service and related categories, except for advice on the appointment of candidates having successfully passed a competitive examination, which shall be given by boards of examiners, in accordance with staff rule 4.16 (Competitive examinations).

            (c)       Each central review body shall be composed of staff members holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment, whose rank is not below that of the level of the post to which appointment, selection or promotion is contemplated, as follows:

            (i)        Members selected by the Secretary-General;

            (ii)       Members selected by the appropriate staff representative body;

            (iii)      The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management, or an authorized representative, as an ex officio non-voting member.

            (d)       Each central review body shall elect its own chair.

            (e)       The rules of procedure of the central review bodies shall be established and published by the Secretary-General.

            (f)        Executive heads of separately administered programmes, funds and subsidiary organs of the United Nations to whom the Secretary-General has delegated the authority to appoint, select and promote staff may establish advisory bodies to advise them in the case of staff members recruited specifically for service with those programmes, funds or subsidiary organs. The composition and functions of such advisory bodies shall be generally similar to those of the central review bodies established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 4.16

                         Competitive examinations

            (a)       Boards of examiners established by the Secretary-General shall ensure the regularity of the competitive examinations administered in accordance with conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (b)       Boards of examiners shall make recommendations to the Secretary-General in respect of the following:

            (i)        Appointment to P-1 and P-2 posts that are subject to the system of desirable ranges and to posts in the Professional category requiring special language competence at the United Nations Secretariat shall be made exclusively through competitive examination;

            (ii)       Recruitment to the Professional category at the United Nations Secretariat of staff from the General Service and related categories having successfully passed the appropriate competitive examinations shall be made within the limits established by the General Assembly. Such recruitment shall be made exclusively through competitive examination.

            (c)       Staff members appointed to the Professional category after a competitive examination shall be subject to mandatory reassignment, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 4.17

                         Reinstatement

            (a)       A former staff member who held a fixed-term or continuing appointment and who is re-employed under a fixed-term or a continuing appointment within 12 months of separation from service may be reinstated under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (b)      On reinstatement, the staff member’s services shall be considered as having been continuous, and the staff member shall return any monies received on account of separation, including termination indemnity under staff rule 9.8, repatriation grant under staff rule 9.12 and payment for accrued annual leave under staff rule 9.10. The interval between separation and reinstatement shall be charged, to the extent possible, to annual leave, with any further period charged to special leave without pay. The staff member’s sick leave credit under staff rule 6.2 (Sick leave) at the time of separation shall be re-established; the staff member’s participation, if any, in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund shall be governed by the Regulations of the Fund.

            (c)      A former staff member who held a temporary appointment and who is re‑employed under a temporary or fixed-term appointment shall not be reinstated regardless of the duration of separation from service.

            (d)      A former staff member who held a fixed-term or continuing appointment and who is re-employed under a temporary appointment shall not be reinstated regardless of the duration of separation from service.

                         Rule 4.18

                         Re-employment

            (a)      A former staff member who is re-employed under conditions established by the Secretary-General shall be given a new appointment unless the staff member is reinstated under staff rule 4.17.

            (b)      The terms of the new appointment shall be fully applicable without regard to any period of former service. When a staff member is re-employed under the present rule, the service shall not be considered as continuous between the prior and new appointments.

            (c)      When a staff member receives a new appointment in the United Nations common system of salaries and allowances less than 12 months after separation, the amount of any payment on account of termination indemnity, repatriation grant or commutation of accrued annual leave shall be adjusted so that the number of months, weeks or days of salary to be paid at the time of the separation after the new appointment, when added to the number of months, weeks or days paid for prior periods of service, does not exceed the total of months, weeks or days that would have been paid had the service been continuous.

                         Rule 4.19

                         Medical examination

            (a)       Staff members may be required from time to time to satisfy the United Nations Medical Director or Medical Officer designated by the United Nations Medical Director, by medical examination, that they are free from any ailment likely to impair the health or safety of others.

            (b)       Staff members may also be required to undergo such medical examinations and receive such inoculations as may be required by the United Nations Medical Director or Medical Officer designated by the United Nations Medical Director before going on or after returning from mission service.

                         Article V

                         Annual and special leave

                         Regulation 5.1

            Staff members shall be allowed appropriate annual leave.

                         Regulation 5.2

            Special leave may be authorized by the Secretary-General in exceptional cases.

                         Regulation 5.3

            Eligible staff members shall be granted home leave once in every 24 months. However, the Secretary-General may grant home leave once in every 12 months to eligible staff members in duty stations having the most difficult conditions of life and work under specific conditions, as approved by the General Assembly. A staff member whose home country is either the country of his or her official duty station or the country of his or her normal residence while in United Nations service shall not be eligible for home leave.

                         Chapter V

                         Attendance and leave

                         Rule 5.1

                         Hours of work

            (a)       The Secretary-General shall set the normal number of working hours per week for each duty station pursuant to staff regulation 1.3 (b). Exceptions may be made by the Secretary-General as the needs of service may require. A staff member may be required to work beyond the normal number of working hours whenever requested to do so.

                         Overtime and compensatory time off

            (b)       A staff member in the General Service, Security Service or Trades and Crafts category, or in the Field Service category up to and including level FS-5, who is required to work in excess of the normal number of working hours per week shall be given compensatory time off or may receive payment for overtime, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (c)       Should the exigencies of service permit, and under conditions established by the Secretary-General, occasional compensatory time off may be granted to staff members serving in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category at the FS-6 and FS-7 levels who have been required to work substantial or recurrent periods of overtime.

                         Night differential

            (d)       A staff member who is assigned to regularly scheduled night-time hours of work shall receive a night differential at a rate and under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (e)       Unless otherwise specifically prescribed by the Secretary-General, night differential shall not be paid for the same work for which overtime payment or compensatory time off is allowed, or for any hours when the staff member is on leave or in travel status.

                         Rule 5.2

                         Official holidays

            (a)      Pursuant to staff regulation 1.3 (b), the number of official holidays at each duty station shall be 10 days in each calendar year, including those official holidays mandated by the General Assembly, which shall be observed at all duty stations. When an official holiday falls on a non-working day, the preceding or following working day which is closest to the holiday shall be observed as an official holiday.

            (b)      Pursuant to staff regulation 1.3 (b), the official holidays not mandated by the General Assembly shall be determined by the Secretary-General at Headquarters and under conditions established by the Secretary-General at other duty stations, after staff consultation.

                         Rule 5.3

                         Annual leave

            (a)       A staff member who holds a temporary appointment:

            (i)       Shall accrue 1 1/2 days per month of annual leave while in full pay status;

            (ii)       May accumulate and carry forward up to 18 working days of annual leave by the first day of the next annual leave cycle as established by the Secretary-General.

            (b)       A staff member who holds a fixed-term or a continuing appointment:

            (i)       Shall accrue 2 1/2 days per month of annual leave while in full pay status;

            (ii)       May accumulate and carry forward up to 60 working days of annual leave by the first day of the next annual leave cycle as established by the Secretary-General.

            (c)       (i)        Annual leave may be taken in units of days and half-days;

            (ii)       Leave may be taken only when authorized.

            (d)      All arrangements related to leave shall be subject to the exigencies of service, which may require that leave be taken by a staff member during a period designated by the Secretary-General. The personal circumstances and preferences of the individual staff member shall, as far as possible, be considered.

            (e)      If a staff member is absent from work without authorization, payment of salary and allowances shall cease for the period of unauthorized absence. However, depending on the circumstances, including if the absence was caused by reasons beyond the staff member’s control, the Secretary-General may decide to charge the absence to accrued annual leave, or a combination of accrued annual leave and uncertified sick leave where available or special leave without pay.

            (f)        A staff member may, in exceptional circumstances, be granted advance annual leave up to a maximum of 10 working days, provided that the staff member’s service is expected to continue for a sufficient period to accrue the advance leave.

            (g)       No leave shall accrue while a staff member is receiving compensation for injury or illness attributable to service equivalent to salary and allowances as provided in appendix D to the present Rules.

                         Rule 5.4

                         Home leave

            (a)       Eligible internationally recruited staff members, as defined under staff rule 4.5, shall be entitled to periodic travel to their home country at United Nations expense for the purpose of spending in that country a reasonable period of annual leave, under conditions established by the Secretary-General, as follows:

            (i)        Staff members who hold fixed-term or continuing appointments shall accrue qualifying service towards home leave entitlement for themselves and their eligible family members;

            (ii)       Staff members who hold temporary appointments and who are serving at duty stations classified as D or E by the International Civil Service Commission that do not fall under the rest and recuperation framework shall accrue qualifying service towards home leave entitlement for themselves only.

            (b)       Staff members who reside in their home country while in service with the United Nations or whose duty station is in their home country shall not be eligible for home leave.

            (c)      Leave taken for this purpose will be charged against the staff member’s accrued annual leave.

            (d)       Staff members shall be eligible for home leave provided that the following conditions are fulfilled:

            (i)        While performing their official duties:

                        a.        They continue to reside in a country other than that of their recognized nationality; or

                        b.        In the case of staff members who are native of a non-metropolitan territory of the country of the duty station and who maintained their normal residence in such non-metropolitan territory prior to appointment, they continue to reside, while performing their official duties, outside such territory;

            (ii)       Their service is expected by the Secretary-General to continue:

                        a.        At least six months beyond the date of their return from any proposed home leave; and

                        b.        In the case of the first home leave, at least six months beyond the date on which the staff member will have completed 24 months of qualifying service;

            (iii)      In the case of home leave following the return from a family visit travel under staff rule 7.2 (a) (vi), normally not less than nine months of continuous service have elapsed since the return from the family visit travel.

            (e)       Staff members whose eligibility under paragraph (d) above is established at the time of their appointment shall begin to accrue service credit towards home leave from that date. Staff members who become eligible for home leave subsequent to appointment shall begin to accrue such service credits from the effective date of their becoming eligible.

            (f)        The home country shall be the country of the staff member’s recognized nationality.

            (g)       The place of home leave of staff members within their home country shall be, for purposes of travel and transportation entitlements, the place with which the staff members have the closest residential ties during the period of their most recent residence in the home country. In exceptional circumstances, a change in the place of home leave may be authorized, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (h)      Staff members who have served with another public international organization immediately preceding their appointment shall have the place of home leave determined as though their entire previous service with the other international organization had been with the United Nations.

            (i)        The Secretary-General may authorize in exceptional and compelling circumstances:

            (i)        A country other than the country of nationality as the home country;

            (ii)      A one-time permanent change of home country if it is consistent with the intent and purpose of home leave.

            (j)       The Secretary-General may also authorize travel to a country other than the home country. In such a case, the travel expenses borne by the United Nations shall not exceed the cost of travel to the home country.

            (k)       (i)        A staff member’s home leave shall fall due upon completion of 24 months of qualifying service;

            (ii)       After falling due, home leave may be taken within 12 months, subject to the exigencies of service.

            (l)        Staff members may be granted advance home leave, provided that normally not less than 12 months of qualifying service have been completed or that normally not less than 12 months of qualifying service have elapsed since the date of return from their last home leave. The granting of advance home leave shall not advance the eligibility for, or the due date of, the next home leave. The granting of advance home leave shall be subject to the conditions for the entitlement being subsequently met. If these conditions are not met, the staff member will be required to reimburse the costs paid by the Organization for the advance travel.

            (m)     If a staff member delays taking home leave beyond the 12-month period after which it falls due, such delayed leave may be taken without altering the time of the next and succeeding home leave entitlements, provided that normally not less than 12 months of qualifying service elapse between the date of the staff member’s return from the delayed home leave and the date of the next home leave departure.

            (n)       The Secretary-General may require staff members to take their home leave in conjunction with travel on official business or change of official duty station. Due regard will be paid to the interests of the staff members and their families.

            (o)       Subject to the conditions specified in chapter VII (Travel and relocation expenses) of the present Rules, staff members shall be entitled to claim, in respect of authorized travel on home leave, expenses for themselves and eligible family members for the outward and return journeys between the official duty station and the place of home leave. Staff members may also claim travel time in respect of authorized travel on home leave.

            (p)       When both spouses are staff members eligible for home leave, and taking into account staff rule 4.7 (Family relationships), each staff member shall have the choice of either exercising the home leave entitlement or of accompanying the spouse. Staff members who choose to accompany their spouse shall be granted travel time appropriate to the travel involved.

            (q)      Dependent children whose parents are both staff members entitled to home leave may accompany either parent regardless of which parent is entitled to the dependency benefits.

            (r)       In the situations described in paragraphs (p) and (q) above, the frequency of travel shall not exceed the established periodicity of the home leave both with regard to staff members and to their dependent children, if any.

            (s)       A staff member travelling on home leave shall be required to spend no less than seven calendar days, exclusive of travel time, in the staff member’s home country. The Secretary-General may request a staff member, on return from home leave, to furnish satisfactory evidence that this requirement has been fully met.

            (t)        Under terms and conditions established by the Secretary-General, eligible staff members serving in duty stations classified as D or E by the International Civil Service Commission that do not fall under the rest and recuperation framework shall be granted home leave once in every 12 months. Staff members shall be eligible for home leave provided that the following conditions are fulfilled:

            (i)        The staff member’s service is expected by the Secretary-General to continue:

                        a.        At least three months beyond the date of the return from any proposed home leave; and

                        b.        In the case of the first home leave, at least three months beyond the date on which the staff member will have completed 12 months of qualifying service;

            (ii)       In the case of home leave following the staff member’s return from family visit travel under staff rule 7.2 (a) (vi), normally a period of not less than three months of continuous service has elapsed since the staff member’s return from family visit travel.

                         Rule 5.5

                         Special leave

            (a)       (i)        Special leave may be granted at the request of a staff member holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment for advanced study or research in the interest of the United Nations, in cases of extended illness, for childcare or for other important reasons for such period of time as the Secretary-General may prescribe. Special leave may also be granted under conditions established under appendix C to the present Rules (Arrangements relating to military service);

            (ii)       Special leave is normally without pay. In exceptional circumstances, special leave with full or partial pay may be granted;

            (iii)      In exceptional cases, the Secretary-General may place a staff member on special leave with full or partial pay or without pay if such leave is considered to be in the interest of the Organization;

            (iv)      Subject to conditions established by the Secretary-General, family leave without pay may be granted as follows:

                        a.        Staff members who are the parent of a newborn or adopted child may be granted special leave without pay for up to two years with a possibility of extension for up to an additional two years in exceptional circumstances. The right of a staff member to be reabsorbed after the end of such special leave without pay shall be fully protected;

                        b.        As special leave without pay for a reasonable period, including necessary travel time, upon the death of a member of the immediate family of the staff member or in case of serious family emergency.

            (b)       Special leave shall not be authorized for governmental service in a political office, in a diplomatic or other representational post or for the purpose of performing any functions that are incompatible with the staff member’s continued status as an international civil servant. In exceptional circumstances, special leave without pay may be granted to staff members who are requested by their Government to render temporary services involving functions of a technical nature.

            (c)       The Secretary-General may authorize special leave without pay for pension purposes to protect the pension benefits of staff who are within 2 years of reaching the applicable qualifying age for an early retirement benefit under article 29 of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and 25 years of contributory service, or who are over that age and within 2 years of 25 years of contributory service.

            (d)       Staff members holding a temporary appointment may exceptionally be granted special leave, with full or partial pay or without pay, for compelling reasons for such period as the Secretary-General deems appropriate.

            (e)       Continuity of service shall not be considered broken by periods of special leave with or without pay.

            (f)       However, staff members shall not accrue service credits towards sick, annual and home leave, salary increment, seniority, termination indemnity and repatriation grant during periods of special leave with partial pay or without pay exceeding one month. Periods of special leave with partial pay or without pay exceeding one month shall not be counted towards accrued years of service for eligibility requirements for a continuing appointment.

                         Article VI

                         Social security

                         Regulation 6.1

            Provision shall be made for the participation of staff members in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund in accordance with the regulations of that Fund.

                         Regulation 6.2

            The Secretary-General shall establish a scheme of social security for the staff, including provisions for health protection, sick leave, maternity and paternity leave, and reasonable compensation in the event of illness, accident or death attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations.

                         Chapter VI

                         Rule 6.1

                         Participation in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund

            Staff members whose appointments are for six months or longer or who complete six months of service under shorter appointments without an interruption of more than 30 calendar days shall become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, provided that participation is not expressly excluded by their letters of appointment.

                         Rule 6.2

                         Sick leave

            (a)       Staff members who are unable to perform their duties for reasons of health, including illness or injury, or whose attendance at work is prevented by public health requirements may be granted certified or uncertified sick leave.

            (b)       Under conditions established by the Secretary-General, sick leave shall be granted as:

            (i)        Certified sick leave upon approval by the Secretary-General of a medical certificate or medical report or when, in accordance with staff rule 6.2 (i), the staff member is required by the United Nations Medical Director not to attend the workplace;

            (ii)       Uncertified sick leave:

                        a.        If staff members do not provide a medical certificate or medical report, or if the medical certificate or medical report is not approved; or

                        b.        If staff members are unable to perform their duties by reason of a personal or family emergency.

                         Maximum entitlement

            (c)       The maximum overall entitlement to certified and uncertified sick leave shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

            (i)        Staff members who hold a temporary appointment shall be granted sick leave on full salary at the rate of two working days per month;

            (ii)       Staff members who hold a fixed-term appointment and who have completed less than three years of continuous service shall be granted sick leave of up to 65 working days on full salary and 65 working days on half salary in any period of 12 consecutive months;

            (iii)      Staff members who hold a continuing appointment, or who hold a fixed-term appointment for three years or who have completed three years or more of continuous service shall be granted sick leave of up to 195 working days on full salary and 195 working days on half salary in any period of four consecutive years.

            (d)       Within the limits set out in staff rule 6.2 (c), staff members may be granted uncertified sick leave for up to seven working days in the annual leave cycle as established by the Secretary-General. Used uncertified sick leave days, including for personal or family emergency, shall be deducted from the staff member’s maximum overall entitlement specified in staff rule 6.2 (c).

                         Certified sick leave

            (e)       Sick leave taken by a staff member in excess of the limits set in paragraph (c) above requires approval in accordance with conditions established by the Secretary-General. When those conditions are not met, the absence shall be treated as unauthorized in accordance with staff rule 5.3 (e).

                         Sick leave during annual leave

            (f)        When sickness occurs while a staff member is on annual leave, including home leave, sick leave may be approved subject to appropriate medical certification.

                         Obligations of staff members

            (g)       Staff members shall inform their supervisors as soon as possible of absences for reasons of health, including illness or injury, under conditions established by the Secretary-General. They shall promptly submit any medical certificate or medical report required under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (h)       Staff members may be required at any time to submit a medical report as to their condition or to undergo a medical examination by the United Nations medical services or a medical practitioner designated by the United Nations Medical Director. When, in the opinion of the United Nations Medical Director, a medical condition impairs a staff member’s ability to perform the staff member’s functions, the staff member may be directed not to attend the office and requested to seek treatment from a duly qualified medical practitioner. The staff member shall comply promptly with any direction or request under this rule.

            (i)        Staff members shall immediately notify a United Nations medical officer of any case of contagious disease occurring in their household or of any quarantine order affecting their household. Staff members may be required by the United Nations Medical Director not to attend the office and requested to seek treatment from a duly qualified medical practitioner. If so, the staff member shall receive full salary and other emoluments for the period of authorized absence, as applicable. The staff member shall comply promptly with any direction or request under this rule.

            (j)        A staff member shall not leave the duty station while on sick leave without the prior approval of the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 6.3

                         Parental leave

            (a)       Under conditions established by the Secretary-General, staff members shall be granted:

            (i)       Sixteen weeks of parental leave with full pay in the case of the birth or adoption of a child;

            (ii)       An additional period of 10 weeks of prenatal and postnatal leave with full pay for the parent who gives birth, bringing the total duration of their parental leave to 26 weeks;

            (b)       Staff members may avail of the 16 weeks of parental leave mentioned in paragraph (a) (i) above any time within a year following the date of their child’s birth or adoption, provided that it is completed during that year.

            (c)       Parental leave in the case of the birth or adoption of a child under paragraph (a) (i) above may not be granted more than once in any 12-month period to be counted from the date of birth or adoption of the child. This paragraph (c) shall not apply to a parent who gives birth.

            (d)       Sick leave shall not normally be granted for maternity cases during the prenatal and postnatal leave mentioned in paragraph (a) (ii) above, except where serious complications arise.

            (e)       Annual leave shall accrue during periods of parental leave.

                         Rule 6.4

                         Compensation for death, injury or illness attributable to service

            Staff members shall be entitled to compensation in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations, in accordance with the rules set forth in appendix D to the present Rules.

                         Rule 6.5

                         Compensation for loss or damage to personal effects attributable to service

            Staff members shall be entitled, within the limits and under terms and conditions established by the Secretary-General, to reasonable compensation in the event of loss or damage to their personal effects determined to be directly attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations.

                         Rule 6.6

                         Medical insurance

            Staff members may be required to participate in a United Nations medical insurance scheme under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 6.7

                         Review of medical determination

            (a)       Where a staff member disputes a medical determination, the matter shall be referred, at the staff member’s request, to an independent medical practitioner acceptable to both the United Nations Medical Director and the staff member or to a medical board, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (b)      The cost of an independent medical practitioner or a medical board mentioned in paragraph (a) above shall be borne by the United Nations or by the staff member, or by both, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Article VII

                         Travel and relocation expenses

                         Regulation 7.1

            Subject to conditions and definitions prescribed by the Secretary-General, the United Nations shall in appropriate cases pay the travel expenses of staff members, their spouses and dependent children.

                         Regulation 7.2

            Subject to conditions and definitions prescribed by the Secretary-General, the United Nations shall in appropriate cases pay relocation shipment for staff members.

                         Chapter VII

                         Rule 7.1

                         Authorization to travel

            Before travel is undertaken, it shall be authorized in writing. Staff members shall be responsible for ascertaining that they have the proper authorization before commencing travel.

                         Rule 7.2

                         Official travel of staff members and their eligible family members

            (a)       The United Nations shall pay the travel expenses in respect of official travel for the following individuals, under conditions established by the Secretary-General:

            (i)        On initial appointment:

                        a.        Staff members internationally recruited pursuant to staff rule 4.5 (Staff in posts subject to international recruitment); and

                        b.        Their eligible family members, provided that the staff members hold a fixed-term or continuing appointment and are not assigned to a non-family duty station, and their services are expected to continue for more than six months beyond the date on which the travel of the eligible family members commences;

            (ii)       Staff members on official business travel;

            (iii)      On change of official duty station, as defined in staff rule 4.8 (Change of official duty station):

                        b.        Their eligible family members, provided that the staff members hold a fixed-term or continuing appointment and are not assigned to a non-family duty station, and their services at the new duty station are expected to continue for more than six months beyond the date on which the travel of the eligible family members commences;

            (iv)      On travel authorized for medical, safety or security reasons or in other appropriate cases, when, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, there are compelling reasons for paying such expenses:

                        a.        Staff members; and

                        b.        Their eligible family members;

            (v)       On home leave, in accordance with the provisions of staff rule 5.4 (Home leave):

                        b.        Their eligible family members;

            (vi)      On family visit:

                        a.        Staff members internationally recruited pursuant to staff rule 4.5 who hold a fixed-term or continuing appointment; or

                        b.        The spouse of such staff members, for travel to the duty station provided that it is not designated as non-family, in lieu of the staff member’s family visit travel;

            (vii)     On education grant travel for a staff member’s dependent child in accordance with staff regulation 3.2 (a);

            (viii)    On separation from service, as defined by article IX of the Staff Regulations and chapter IX of the Staff Rules, except in cases defined in paragraph (d) below, of:

                        a.        Staff members internationally recruited pursuant to staff rule 4.5; and

                        b.        Their eligible family members, provided that the staff members hold a fixed-term or continuing appointment, were not assigned to a non-family duty station and had completed at least one year of continuous service.

            (b)       Eligible family members, for the purposes of official travel, shall be deemed to comprise a spouse and those children recognized as dependants under staff rule 3.5 (a) (iii).

            (c)       On separation from service, the United Nations shall pay the travel expenses of staff members and their eligible family members to the place of recruitment or, if the staff member holds a fixed-term or continuing appointment, to the recognized place of home leave under staff rule 5.4 (Home leave). Should a staff member, on separation, wish to go to any other place, the travel expenses borne by the United Nations shall not exceed the maximum amount that would have been payable for the return of the staff member and eligible family members, if appropriate, to the place of recruitment or home leave, as applicable.

            (d)       The United Nations shall not pay the travel expenses on separation from service of staff members and their eligible family members in the following circumstances, unless the Secretary-General determines that there are compelling reasons for authorizing such payment:

            (i)        Abandonment of post;

            (ii)       Resignation of staff members holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment when they resign:

                        a.        Before completing one year of service; or

                        b.        Within six months following the date of their return from travel on home leave or family visit, except in the case of such staff members who are assigned to duty stations classified as D or E by the International Civil Service Commission that do not fall under the rest and recuperation framework, for whom the period shall be within three months of the date of their return;

            (iii)      Resignation of staff members holding a temporary appointment who resign before completing the full term of their appointment;

            (iv)      Where the return travel has not commenced within two years of the date of separation of the staff member or, if both spouses are staff members, within two years of the date of separation of the staff member’s spouse, whichever is later.

            (e)       In the case of staff members holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment, the Secretary-General may authorize payment of the travel expenses of a child for one trip, either to the staff member’s duty station or to the staff member’s home country, beyond the age at which the dependency status of the child would otherwise cease under staff rule 3.5 (a) (iii), either within one year or upon completion of the child’s continuous full-time attendance at a university or its equivalent, when the attendance at the university commenced during the period of recognized dependency status.

            (f)        The Secretary-General may also authorize payment of travel expenses for the repatriation of a former spouse of a staff member from the duty station of the staff member to the place of recruitment or to the recognized place of home leave, provided that the staff member is holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment and that the former spouse’s travel expenses to the duty station had been paid by the United Nations.

            (g)       The Secretary-General may reject any claim for payment or reimbursement of travel or relocation shipment expenses which are incurred by a staff member or their eligible family members in contravention of any provision of the Staff Rules.

                         Rule 7.3

                         Dates, mode, route and standard of travel

            (a)       Official travel shall, in all instances, be on the dates and by the mode, route and standard of travel approved in advance by the Secretary-General in accordance with staff rule 7.1 (Authorization to travel).

                         Official dates of travel

            (b)       The official departure date is normally the day on which travel must start to allow the traveller to arrive at the place of official business before the commencement of duties. The official return date is normally the day after duties on official business have ended.

                         Mode of travel

            (c)       The normal mode of travel for all official travel shall be by air. An alternative mode of travel may be approved when the Secretary-General determines that its use is in the best interest of the United Nations.       

                         Route of travel

            (d)       The normal route for all official travel shall be the most economical route available, provided that the total additional travel time required for the whole journey does not exceed by four hours or more the total travel time using the most direct route available. An alternative route may be approved when the Secretary-General determines that it is in the best interest of the Organization.

                         Standard of accommodation of travel

            (e)       For all official travel by air, staff members up to and including those at the D-2 level and their eligible family members shall be provided with economy class transportation in accordance with the most economical route available. Under conditions established by the Secretary-General, such staff members and their eligible family members may be granted a standard of travel immediately below first class.

            (f)        For all official travel by air, the Deputy Secretary-General, the Under-Secretaries-General and the Assistant Secretaries-General and their eligible family members shall be provided with a standard of travel immediately below first class, unless economy class transportation is otherwise provided for under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (g)       In exceptional cases, a higher standard of travel may be approved by the Secretary-General.

            (h)       Children, including those under 2 years of age, travelling by air shall be provided with a ticket entitling them to a seat.

            (i)        For all official travel by train or commercial ground transportation approved under paragraph (c) above, staff members and their eligible family members shall be granted regular first-class travel or an equivalent standard.

            (j)        For all official water travel approved under paragraph (c) above, staff members and their eligible family members shall be granted a standard of travel under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Deviation for personal convenience

            (k)       (i)        Travel expenses and other entitlements, including travel time, shall be limited to the amount authorized for a journey on the approved dates and by the approved mode, route and standard of travel. Staff members who wish, for personal convenience, to make travel arrangements that vary from the approved dates, mode, route or standard of travel must obtain permission to do so in advance and assume the responsibility for all changes, including payment of any additional costs thus incurred above the amount authorized by the United Nations;

            (ii)       In the case of a deviation for personal convenience, annual leave shall be deducted for absence on working days at the official duty station of the staff member falling outside of the official business travel period. Time spent travelling according to the approved itinerary shall be counted as travel time and not as annual leave;

            (iii)      If a staff member or eligible family member making a deviation for personal convenience travels using a more economical itinerary than the one approved, the United Nations shall pay only for the actual cost incurred;

            (iv)      A choice by the staff member of a more economical itinerary within the official travel dates shall not be considered a deviation for personal convenience.

                         Rule 7.4

                         Travel by motor vehicle

            Staff members who are authorized to travel by motor vehicle shall be reimbursed by the United Nations at rates and under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 7.5

                         Purchase of tickets

            All tickets for official travel of staff members and eligible family members shall be purchased by the United Nations in advance of the actual travel, unless staff members are authorized to purchase their own tickets under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 7.6

                         Terminal expenses

            (a)      For all official travel, staff members and their eligible family members, where applicable, are entitled to payment of terminal expenses at rates and under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Terminal expenses shall be deemed to cover all expenditures for transportation and related incidental charges between the airport or other point of arrival or departure and the hotel or other place of dwelling.

            (b)       No terminal expenses shall be paid in respect of an intermediate stop that:

            (i)        Is not authorized;

            (ii)       Does not involve leaving the terminal;

            (iii)      Is exclusively for the purpose of making an onward connection on the same day.

                         Rule 7.7

                         Daily subsistence allowance

            (a)       Staff members authorized to travel at United Nations expense shall receive an appropriate daily subsistence allowance to cover accommodation, meals and incidental expenditures in accordance with rates established by the International Civil Service Commission. Such established rates shall be subject to the provisions of paragraph (d) below and to reductions in cases where lodging or meals are provided free of charge by the United Nations, a Government or a related institution.

            (b)       Daily subsistence allowance shall comprise the total contribution of the United Nations towards such charges as accommodation, meals and incidental expenditures.

            (c)       The Secretary-General may, in exceptional and compelling circumstances, authorize a reasonable increase in the daily subsistence allowance to be paid to staff members who are required to accompany a senior official and whose official duties while in travel status require that their additional living expenses be set at a rate substantially higher than the established rate.

            (d)       The Secretary-General may establish a special rate for daily subsistence allowance in cases where deemed appropriate, including in the event of staff members being assigned to conferences or other extended periods of duty away from their official duty station.

            (e)       When the spouse or dependent children of a staff member are authorized to travel at United Nations expense, the staff member shall be paid an additional daily subsistence allowance for each such family member at half the established standard rate applicable to the staff member.

            (f)        The Secretary-General may establish conditions under which daily subsistence allowance may be paid during sick, annual or special leave taken while on travel status.

            (g)       No daily subsistence allowance shall be payable in respect of travel on appointment, assignment or repatriation, or in respect of travel on home leave, family visit or education grant, provided that the allowance may be paid for stopovers actually made during such travel under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Where travel at United Nations expense is authorized for medical, safety, security or other reasons under staff rule 7.2 (Official travel of staff members and their eligible family members) an appropriate amount of daily subsistence allowance may be paid at the discretion of the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 7.8

                         Miscellaneous travel expenses

            Necessary additional expenses incurred by a staff member in connection with official business travel shall be reimbursed by the United Nations after the completion of travel, provided that the necessity and nature of the expenses are satisfactorily explained and supported by proper receipts, which shall normally be required for any expenditures in excess of 30 United States dollars or as established by the Secretary-General. Such expenses, for which advance authorization shall be obtained to the extent practicable, shall normally be limited to:

            (a)       Local transportation other than that provided for under staff rule 7.6 (Terminal expenses);

            (b)       Telephone and other forms of communication required for official business;

            (c)       Space, equipment and services required for official use;

            (d)       Transportation or storage of authorized baggage or property used for conducting official business.

                         Rule 7.9

                         Travel advances

            Staff members authorized to travel shall be responsible for securing advance funds sufficient to cover all travel expenses. An advance of 100 per cent of the terminal expenses and daily subsistence allowance payable under staff rules 7.6 (Terminal expenses) and 7.7 (Daily subsistence allowance) may be made on the basis of an estimate and certification.

                         Rule 7.10

                         Illness or injury during travel on official business

            The United Nations shall pay or reimburse reasonable hospital and medical expenses, insofar as they are not covered by other arrangements, which may be incurred by staff members who become ill or are injured while on official business travel status.

                         Rule 7.11

                         Settling-in grant

                         Definition and computation of the grant

            (a)       The settling-in grant is intended to provide staff with a reasonable amount of cash at the beginning of an assignment for costs incurred as a result of the appointment or assignment and is based on the assumption that the main expenses of installation are incurred at the outset of an assignment.

            (b)       The settling-in grant consists of two portions:

            (i)        The daily subsistence allowance portion, which shall be equivalent to:

                        a.        Thirty days of daily subsistence allowance at the daily rate applicable under subparagraph (c) (i) below in respect of staff members; and

                        b.        Thirty days of daily subsistence allowance at half the daily rate in respect of each eligible family member for whom travel expenses have been paid by the United Nations under staff rule 7.2 (a) (i) and (iii);

            (ii)       The lump-sum portion, which is calculated on the basis of one month of the staff member’s net base salary and, where appropriate, post adjustment at the duty station of assignment.

            (c)       (i)        The Secretary-General may establish and publish special rates of daily subsistence allowance for the purposes of the settling-in grant for specific categories of staff at various duty stations. Where such special rates have not been established, the daily subsistence allowance rates under staff rule 7.7 (Daily subsistence allowance) shall be used in computing the settling-in grant;

            (ii)       Under conditions established by the Secretary-General, the limit of 30 days provided in paragraph (b) above may be extended to a maximum of 90 days. The amount of the grant during the extended period shall be up to 60 per cent of the appropriate prevailing rate.

            (d)       Staff members holding a temporary appointment who travel at United Nations expense pursuant to staff rule 7.2 (a) (i) shall be paid only the daily subsistence allowance portion of the settling-in grant, for themselves only, as specified in subparagraph (b) (i) above, and shall not be entitled to the lump-sum portion of the grant.

            (e)       Staff members holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment who travel at United Nations expense to a duty station for an assignment expected to be for one year or more shall be paid a settling-in grant in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) above.

            (f)        If a change of official duty station or a new appointment involves a return to a place at which the staff member was previously stationed, the full amount of the settling-in grant shall not be payable unless the staff member has been absent from that place for at least one year. In the case of a shorter absence, the amount payable shall normally be that proportion of the full grant that the completed months of absence bear to one year.

                         Rule 7.12

                         Excess baggage and unaccompanied shipments

                         Excess baggage

            (a)       For the purpose of the Staff Rules, “excess baggage” shall mean any accompanied baggage not carried free of charge by transportation companies.

            (b)       Staff members travelling by air at the expense of the United Nations shall be entitled to reimbursement of the cost of accompanied excess baggage for themselves and, for staff members holding fixed-term or continuing appointments, for each of their eligible family members under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         General provisions on unaccompanied shipments

            (c)       “Personal effects and household goods” shall mean effects and goods normally required for personal or household use, excluding animals and power-assisted vehicles.

            (d)       Unaccompanied shipments shall normally be made in one consignment, and related expenses shall be reimbursed on the basis of the maximum entitlement for transportation by the most economical means, as determined by the Secretary-General, between the official places of departure and destination of the staff member or eligible family members. A lump-sum amount may be paid in lieu of the unaccompanied shipment under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (e)       The normal costs of packing, crating and lift vans, cartage, unpacking and uncrating shall be reimbursed for unaccompanied shipments authorized under the present rule, except for shipments under conditions established by the Secretary-General for which the cost of cartage only shall be paid. The costs for the servicing, dismantling, installation or special packing of personal effects and household goods shall not be reimbursed. Storage and demurrage charges shall not be reimbursed unless, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, they are directly incidental to the transportation of the consignment.

            (f)        The weight or volume of unaccompanied shipments of personal effects and household goods for which expenses are borne by the Organization under the present rule shall include packing but exclude crating and lift vans.

                         Unaccompanied shipments on home leave, family visit or education grant travel

            (g)       When the authorized travel is by air or land, charges for unaccompanied shipment of personal effects or household goods relating to travel on home leave, family visit or education grant may be reimbursed up to a maximum amount established by the Secretary-General.

                         Unaccompanied shipments for staff holding a temporary appointment or staff assigned for less than one year

            (h)       (i)        A staff member holding a temporary appointment may be reimbursed for the shipment of personal effects and household goods, up to a maximum of 100 kilograms or 0.62 cubic metres, by the most economical means on appointment and on separation from service;

            (ii)       A staff member holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment may be reimbursed for the shipment of personal effects and household goods, up to a maximum of 100 kilograms or 0.62 cubic metres, by the most economical means when on assignment for less than one year. Where the assignment is extended for a total period of one year or longer, the staff member shall be paid expenses for an additional shipment of personal effects and household goods up to the maximum entitlement established in paragraph (i) below on the condition that staff member’s services are expected to continue for more than six months beyond the proposed date of arrival of the personal effects and household goods in line with staff rule 7.14 (a).

                         Unaccompanied shipments for staff holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment appointed or assigned for one year or longer

            (i)        On travel on appointment or assignment for one year or longer or when an assignment is extended for a total period of one year or longer, on transfer to another duty station or on separation from service of a staff member, charges for the shipment of personal effects and household goods by the most economical means may be reimbursed up to a maximum amount established by the Secretary-General.

                         Additional shipment entitlements for staff serving at duty stations classified as D or E that do not fall under the rest and recuperation framework

            (j)        Internationally recruited staff members serving in duty stations classified as D or E by the International Civil Service Commission that do not fall under the rest and recuperation framework shall be granted, under conditions established by the Secretary-General, the following additional entitlements:

            (i)        An additional shipment entitlement once a year by the most economical means of up to a maximum amount established by the Secretary-General in respect of the staff member and each eligible family member for whom the United Nations has paid travel costs to the duty station;

            (ii)       An additional shipment entitlement in connection with the birth or adoption of a child up to a maximum amount established by the Secretary-General;

            (iii)      In addition to the unaccompanied shipment entitlements under the present rule, the cost of transporting a privately owned motor vehicle to one of the duty stations designated for that purpose may be partially reimbursed under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Conversion of shipment by surface to unaccompanied shipment by air

            (k)       When the most economical means of shipment is by surface, the entitlement may be converted to unaccompanied shipment by air under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 7.13

                         Relocation shipment

            (a)       An entitlement to relocation shipment for full removal of personal effects and household goods shall arise with respect to internationally recruited staff members holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment under the following circumstances and in accordance with conditions established by the Secretary-General:

            (i)        On initial appointment, provided that the staff member is expected to serve at the new duty station for a period of two years or longer;

            (ii)       On change of duty station, provided that the staff member is expected to serve at the new duty station for a period of two years or longer;

            (iii)      On separation from service, provided that the staff member had an appointment for a period of two years or longer or had completed not less than two years of continuous service.

            (b)       Relocation shipment shall be by the most economical means at rates and under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Maximum entitlements

            (c)       (i)        Payment by the United Nations of relocation shipment shall be on the basis of maximum entitlements established by the Secretary-General;

            (ii)       The normal costs of packing, crating and lift vans, cartage, unpacking and uncrating shall be reimbursed. Storage and demurrage charges shall not be reimbursed unless the Secretary-General determines that they are directly incidental to the transportation of the consignment;

            (iii)      Transportation of personal effects and household goods shall be by the most economical means at rates and under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (d)       Relocation shipment shall be on the basis of shipment from and to the following destinations:

            (i)        On appointment, from the place of recruitment or the place recognized as the staff member’s home for purposes of home leave under staff rule 5.4 (Home leave) to the official duty station;

            (ii)       Upon separation from service, from the official duty station to any one place to which the staff member is entitled to be returned in accordance with the provisions of staff rule 7.2 (Official travel of staff members and their eligible family members);

            (iii)      Relocation shipment from or to a place other than those specified may be authorized under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

            (e)       No entitlement to relocation shipment shall arise in the following circumstances:

            (i)        For removal of a staff member’s personal effects and household goods within the same duty station;

            (ii)       With respect to service of a staff member at a non-family duty station.

                         Storage of personal effects and household goods

            (f)        When staff members entitled to relocation shipment are assigned to a new duty station without an entitlement to relocation shipment or from a duty station to which they had an entitlement to relocation shipment under paragraph (a) above or would have had such entitlement on appointment from outside the duty station, the United Nations shall pay the costs of storage of personal effects and household goods, subject to conditions established by the Secretary-General and provided that the staff member is expected to return to the same duty station within five years.

                         Lump sum in lieu of relocation shipment

            (g)       A lump-sum amount may be paid in lieu of the relocation shipment under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Adjustments to entitlements

            (h)       Where both spouses are staff members and each is entitled to relocation shipment or unaccompanied shipment under the present rule and taking into account staff rule 4.7 (d), the maximum entitlement to relocation shipment for both spouses shall be that provided for a staff member with a spouse or dependent child residing at the official duty station.

            (i)        In cases where, for reasons not attributable to the Organization, the staff member does not complete the period of service in respect of which the United Nations has paid relocation shipment or a lump sum in lieu of relocation shipment, these costs may be adjusted proportionately, and recovery made under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 7.14

                         Loss of entitlement to unaccompanied shipment or relocation shipment

            (a)       Entitlement to relocation shipment under staff rule 7.13 (a) shall normally cease if the relocation shipment has not commenced within two years of the date on which the staff member became entitled to relocation shipment. In addition, the staff member’s service must be expected to continue for more than six months beyond the proposed date of arrival of the personal effects and household goods.

            (b)       A staff member who resigns before completing two years of service shall not normally be entitled to payment of relocation shipment under staff rule 7.13 (Relocation shipment).

            (c)       On separation from service, entitlement to unaccompanied shipment expenses under staff rule 7.12 (h) and (i) or relocation shipment under staff rule 7.13 shall cease if the shipment has not commenced within two years of the date of separation. However, in accordance with staff rule 4.7 (d), where both spouses are staff members and the spouse who separates first is entitled to unaccompanied shipment or relocation shipment, eligibility for the entitlement shall not cease until two years after the date of separation of the other spouse.

                         Rule 7.15

                         Transportation of decedents

            In the event of the death of a staff member or a staff member’s spouse or dependent child, the United Nations shall pay the expenses for transportation of the body from the official duty station or, in the event of death having occurred while in travel status, from the place of death to a place to which the deceased was entitled to return transportation under staff rule 7.2 (Official travel of staff members and their eligible family members) under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 7.16

                         Insurance

            (a)       Staff members shall not be reimbursed for the cost of personal accident insurance or insurance of accompanied personal baggage. However, compensation may be paid, under arrangements in force under staff rule 6.5 (Compensation for loss or damage to personal effects attributable to service), in respect of loss of or damage to such baggage determined to be directly attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations.

            (b)       In the case of shipments authorized under staff rule 7.12 (Excess baggage and unaccompanied shipments), except for those relating to home leave, family visit or education grant travel, and of the shipment and storage of personal effects and household goods under staff rule 7.13 (Relocation shipment), insurance coverage will be provided by the United Nations up to a maximum amount established by the Secretary-General. However, the United Nations shall not be responsible for the loss of or damage to unaccompanied shipments.

                         Article VIII

                         Staff relations

                         Regulation 8.1

            (a)       The Secretary-General shall establish and maintain continuous contact and communication with the staff in order to ensure the effective participation of the staff in identifying, examining and resolving issues relating to staff welfare, including conditions of work, general conditions of life and other human resources policies;

            (b)       Staff representative bodies shall be established and shall be entitled to initiate proposals to the Secretary-General for the purpose set forth in paragraph (a) above. They shall be organized in such a way as to afford equitable representation to all staff members, by means of elections that shall take place at least biennially under electoral regulations drawn up by the respective staff representative body and agreed to by the Secretary-General.

                         Regulation 8.2

            The Secretary-General shall establish joint staff-management machinery at both local and Secretariat-wide levels to advise him or her regarding human resources policies and general questions of staff welfare as provided in regulation 8.1.

                         Chapter VIII

                         Rule 8.1

                         Staff representative bodies and staff representatives

            (a)       The term “staff representative bodies”, as used in the present chapter of the Staff Rules, shall be deemed to include staff associations, unions or other corresponding staff representative bodies established in accordance with staff regulation 8.1 (b).

            (b)       Staff representative bodies may be established for a duty station or for a group of duty stations. Staff members serving in duty stations where no staff representative body exists may seek representation through a staff representative body at another duty station.

            (c)       Each member of the staff may participate in elections to a staff representative body, and all staff serving at a duty station where a staff representative body exists shall be eligible for election to it, subject to any exceptions as may be provided in the statutes or electoral regulations drawn up by the staff representative body concerned and meeting the requirements of staff regulation 8.1 (b).

            (d)       Polling officers selected by the staff shall conduct the election of the members of each staff representative body, on the basis of the electoral regulations of the staff representative body concerned, in such a way as to ensure the complete secrecy and fairness of the vote. The polling officers shall also conduct other elections of staff members as required by the Staff Regulations and Rules.

            (e)       No staff member shall threaten, retaliate against or attempt to retaliate against any staff representatives exercising their functions under the present chapter.

            (f)        The staff representative bodies shall be entitled to effective participation, through their duly elected executive committees, in identifying, examining and resolving issues relating to staff welfare, including conditions of work, general conditions of life and other human resources policies, and shall be entitled to make proposals to the Secretary-General on behalf of the staff.

            (g)       In accordance with the principle of freedom of association, staff members may form and join associations, unions or other groupings. However, formal contact and communication on the matters referred to in paragraph (f) above shall be conducted at each duty station through the executive committee of the staff representative body, which shall be the sole and exclusive representative body for such purpose.

            (h)       General administrative instructions or directives on questions within the scope of paragraph (f) above shall be transmitted in advance, unless emergency situations make it impracticable, to the executive committees of the staff representative bodies concerned for consideration and comment before being placed in effect.

                         Rule 8.2

                         Joint staff-management machinery

            (a)       The joint staff-management machinery provided for in staff regulation 8.2 shall consist of:

            (i)        Joint advisory committees or corresponding staff-management bodies, at designated duty stations, normally composed of not fewer than three and not more than seven staff representatives and an equal number of representatives of the Secretary-General;

            (ii)       A Secretariat-wide joint staff-management body composed of equal numbers of representatives of the staff and representatives of the Secretary-General.

            (b)       The President of the joint staff-management bodies referred to in paragraph (a) above shall be selected by the Secretary-General from a list proposed by the staff representatives.

            (c)       Instructions or directives embodying recommendations made by the bodies referred to in paragraph (a) above shall be regarded as having satisfied the requirements of staff rule 8.1 (f) and (h).

            (d)       The joint staff-management bodies referred to in paragraph (a) above shall establish their own rules and procedures.

            (e)       The Secretary-General shall designate secretaries of the joint staff-management bodies referred to in paragraph (a) above and shall arrange for such services as may be necessary for their proper functioning.

                         Article IX

                         Separation from service

                         Regulation 9.1

            Staff members may resign from service upon giving the Secretary-General the notice required under the terms of their appointment.

                         Regulation 9.2

            Staff members shall not be retained in active service beyond the age of 65 years. The Secretary-General may, in the interest of the Organization, retain staff members in service beyond this age limit in exceptional cases.

                         Regulation 9.3

            (a)       The Secretary-General may, giving the reasons therefor, terminate the appointment of a staff member who holds a temporary, fixed-term or continuing appointment in accordance with the terms of his or her appointment or for any of the following reasons:

            (i)        If the necessities of service require abolition of the post or reduction of the staff;

            (ii)       If the services of the staff member prove unsatisfactory;

            (iii)      If the staff member is, for reasons of health, incapacitated for further service;

            (iv)      If the conduct of the staff member indicates that the staff member does not meet the highest standards of integrity required by Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter;

            (v)       If facts anterior to the appointment of the staff member and relevant to his or her suitability come to light that, if they had been known at the time of his or her appointment, should, under the standards established in the Charter, have precluded his or her appointment;

            (vi)      In the interest of the good administration of the Organization and in accordance with the standards of the Charter, provided that the action is not contested by the staff member concerned;

            (b)       In addition, in the case of a staff member holding a continuing appointment, the Secretary-General may terminate the appointment without the consent of the staff member if, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, such action would be in the interest of the good administration of the Organization, to be interpreted principally as a change or termination of a mandate, and in accordance with the standards of the Charter;

            (c)       If the Secretary-General terminates an appointment, the staff member shall be given such notice and such indemnity payment as may be applicable under the Staff Regulations and Rules. Payments of termination indemnity shall be made by the Secretary-General in accordance with the rates and conditions specified in annex III to the present Regulations;

            (d)       The Secretary-General may, where the circumstances warrant and he or she considers it justified, pay to a staff member whose appointment has been terminated, provided that the termination is not contested, a termination indemnity payment not more than 50 per cent higher than that which would otherwise be payable under the Staff Regulations.

                         Regulation 9.4

            The Secretary-General shall establish a scheme for the payment of repatriation grants in accordance with the maximum rates and under the conditions specified in annex IV to the present Regulations.

                         Chapter IX

                         Rule 9.1

                         Definition of separation

            Any of the following shall constitute separation from service:

            (a)       Resignation;

            (b)       Abandonment of post;

            (c)       Expiration of appointment;

            (d)       Retirement;

            (e)       Termination of appointment;

            (f)        Death.

                         Rule 9.2

                         Resignation

            (a)       A resignation, within the meaning of the Staff Regulations and Rules, is a separation initiated by a staff member.

            (b)       Unless otherwise specified in their letters of appointment, staff members shall give written notice of resignation according to their type of appointment, as provided in the table below.

The Secretary-General may accept resignations on shorter notice.

            (c)       The Secretary-General may require the resignation to be submitted in person in order to be acceptable.

                         Rule 9.3

                         Abandonment of post

            Abandonment of post is a separation initiated by the staff member other than by way of resignation.

                         Rule 9.4

                         Expiration of appointments

            A temporary or fixed-term appointment shall expire automatically and without prior notice on the expiration date specified in the letter of appointment.

                         Rule 9.5

                         Retirement

            (a)       Staff members may separate from service on retirement on or after reaching their normal retirement age, as provided in the table below, but no later than 65 years of age, which is the mandatory age of separation.

            (b)       Staff members who separate from service on or after reaching the normal retirement age may be eligible for retirement benefits as provided for under article 28 of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

                         Rule 9.6

                         Termination

            (a)       A termination within the meaning of the Staff Regulations and Rules is a separation from service initiated by the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of the appointment or on the grounds set out in staff regulation 9.3 (a) or (b).

            (b)       Separation as a result of resignation, abandonment of post, expiration of appointment, retirement or death shall not be regarded as a termination within the meaning of the Staff Rules.

                         Termination for abolition of posts and reduction of staff

            (c)       Except as otherwise expressly provided in paragraph (d) below and staff rule 13.2 (Permanent appointment), if the necessities of service require that appointments of staff members be terminated as a result of the abolition of a post or the reduction of staff, and subject to the availability of suitable posts in which their services can be effectively utilized, provided that due regard shall be given in all cases to relative competence, integrity and length of service, staff members shall be retained in the following order of preference:

            (i)        Staff members holding continuing appointments;

            (ii)       Staff members recruited through competitive examinations for a career appointment serving on a two-year fixed-term appointment;

            (iii)      Staff members holding fixed-term appointments.

When the suitable posts available are subject to the principle of geographical distribution, due regard shall also be given to nationality in the case of staff members with less than five years of service and in the case of staff members who have changed their nationality within the preceding five years.

            (d)       The provisions of paragraph (c) above insofar as they relate to staff members in the General Service and related categories shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such staff members have received consideration for suitable posts available within their parent organization at their duty stations.

            (e)       Staff members specifically recruited for service with the United Nations Secretariat or with any programme, fund or subsidiary organ of the United Nations that enjoys a special status in matters of appointment under a resolution of the General Assembly or as a result of an agreement entered by the Secretary-General have no entitlement under this rule for consideration for posts outside the organ for which they were recruited.

                         Termination for unsatisfactory service

            (f)        The appointment of a staff member may be terminated for unsatisfactory service under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Termination for health reasons

            (g)       The appointment of a staff member who has not attained the normal age of retirement as defined under article 1 (n) of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund but whose physical or mental condition or extended illness has rendered the staff member incapacitated for further service may be terminated after exhaustion of any sick leave entitlement.

                         Termination for disciplinary reasons

            (h)      The Secretary-General may terminate the appointment of a staff member for disciplinary reasons in accordance with staff rule 10.2 (a) (viii) and (ix).

                         Rule 9.7

                         Notice of termination

            (a)       A staff member whose appointment is to be terminated shall be given written notice in accordance with the notice period set forth in the table below.

Notwithstanding the notice periods set forth in the table above, in the case of a staff member holding a fixed-term or temporary appointment, the applicable notice period shall be the notice period stipulated in the staff member’s letter of appointment.

            (b)       In lieu of the notice period, the Secretary-General may authorize compensation equivalent to salary, applicable post adjustment and allowances corresponding to the relevant notice period at the rate in effect on the last day of service.

            (c)       No termination notice or compensation in lieu thereof shall be given in case of dismissal.

                         Rule 9.8

                         Termination indemnity

            (a)       Payment of termination indemnity under staff regulation 9.3 and annex III to the Staff Regulations shall be calculated as shown in the table below.

            (b)       Length of service shall be deemed to comprise the total period of a staff member’s full-time continuous service. Continuity of such service shall not be considered as broken by periods of special leave. However, service credits shall not accrue during periods of special leave with partial pay or without pay of one full month or more.

            (c)       Termination indemnity shall not be paid to any staff member who has reached the mandatory age of separation of 65 years and will receive a retirement benefit under article 28 of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. Termination indemnity shall not be paid to any staff member who, upon separation from service, will receive compensation for total disability under staff rule 6.4 (Compensation for death, injury or illness attributable to service). 

                         Special leave for pension purposes upon termination

            (d)       Upon application of a staff member who is to be separated as a result of an agreed termination of appointment or because of abolition of post or reduction in staff, the Secretary-General may place the staff member on special leave without pay for pension purposes pursuant to staff rule 5.5 (c) under conditions to be established by the Secretary-General, if the staff member is:

            (i)       Within 2 years of reaching the applicable qualifying age for an early retirement benefit under article 29 of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and 25 years of contributory service in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; or

            (ii)      Over the applicable qualifying age for an early retirement benefit under article 29 of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and within 2 years of 25 years of contributory service in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

            (e)       The Organization will, on the written request of the staff member prior to being placed on special leave pursuant to the preceding paragraph, pay the pension contribution of the Organization and/or the staff member during the period of special leave. The total amount of these contributions will be deducted from the termination indemnity otherwise payable.

            (f)        Staff members who have been placed on special leave as described in paragraph (d) above shall sign an undertaking acknowledging that their status on special leave is solely for pension purposes and that their entitlements and those in respect of any dependants to all other emoluments and benefits under the Staff Regulations and Rules are determined as final as at the date of commencement of such special leave.

                         Rule 9.9

                         Grant upon death

            (a)       A grant shall be payable upon the death of a staff member to the surviving spouse and dependent children (if any), provided that the staff member, at the time of death, held an appointment of one year or longer or had completed at least one year of service. The grant shall be payable under conditions established by the Secretary-General and in accordance with the schedule shown in the table below.

            (b)       The grant shall be calculated as shown in the table below.

                         Rule 9.10

                         Commutation of accrued annual leave

            (a)       If, upon separation from service staff members have accrued annual leave, they shall be paid a sum of money in commutation of the period of such accrued leave up to a maximum of 18 working days for staff holding a temporary appointment and up to a maximum of 60 working days for staff holding a fixed-term or continuing appointment, in accordance with staff rules 4.17 (Reinstatement), 4.18 (Re‑employment) and 5.3 (Annual leave). The payment shall be calculated as shown in the table below.

            (b)       No payment in commutation of the period of accrued annual leave shall be made to a staff member who is dismissed under staff rule 10.2 (a) (ix) for sexual exploitation or sexual abuse in violation of staff rule 1.2 (e) (Specific instances of prohibited conduct).

                         Rule 9.11

                         Restitution of advance annual and sick leave

            On separation, a staff member who has taken advance annual or sick leave beyond that which the staff member has subsequently accrued shall make restitution for such advance leave by means of a refund or an offset against any payment due to the staff member, equivalent to the remuneration received, including allowances and other payments, in respect of the advance leave period. The Secretary-General may waive this requirement if in the opinion of the Secretary-General there are exceptional or compelling reasons for doing so.

                         Rule 9.12

                         Repatriation grant

                         Purpose

            (a)      The purpose of the repatriation grant provided by staff regulation 9.4 is to assist in the re-establishment of expatriate staff members in a country other than the country of the last duty station, provided that they meet the conditions contained in annex IV to the Staff Regulations and in this rule.

            (b)      The following definitions shall be used in ascertaining whether the conditions contained in annex IV to the Staff Regulations and this rule are met:

            (i)        “Country of nationality” shall mean the country of nationality recognized by the Secretary-General;

            (ii)       “Dependent child” shall mean a child recognized as dependent under staff rule 3.5 (a) (iii) at the time of the staff member’s separation from service;

            (iii)      “Home country” shall mean the country of home leave entitlement under staff rule 5.4 (Home leave) or such other country as the Secretary-General may determine;

            (iv)      “Obligation to repatriate” shall mean the obligation to return a staff member and eligible family members, upon separation, at the expense of the United Nations, to a place outside the country of the last duty station at the time of separation;

            (v)       “Qualifying service” shall mean five years or more of continuous service on a fixed-term or continuing appointment and residence away from the home country and the country of nationality of a staff member, or the country where the staff member has acquired permanent resident status.

                         Eligibility, amount and computation of the grant

            (c)      Staff members who are internationally recruited pursuant to staff rule 4.5 shall be eligible for payment of the repatriation grant in accordance with the amount set forth in annex IV to the Staff Regulations, provided that they meet the following conditions:

            (i)       The Organization had the obligation to repatriate the staff members upon separation from service after qualifying service as defined in staff rule 9.12 (b) (v);

            (ii)       The staff members resided outside their home country and country of nationality while serving at the last duty station at the time of separation;

            (iii)      The staff members have not been dismissed or separated from service on grounds of abandonment of post;

            (iv)      The staff members do not have permanent resident status in the country of the duty station at the time of separation.

            (d)      When both spouses are staff members and each is entitled to payment of a repatriation grant on separation from service, the amount of the grant paid to each spouse shall be calculated in accordance with terms and conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Payment of the repatriation grant

            (e)      Payment of the repatriation grant after separation of an eligible staff member shall require submission of documentary evidence satisfactory to the Secretary-General that the former staff member has relocated away from the country of the last duty station at the time of separation.

            (f)       When a staff member receives a new appointment in the United Nations common system less than 12 months after separation, the amount of any payment for repatriation grant shall be adjusted so that the number of months, weeks or days of salary to be paid at the time of the separation after the new appointment, when added to the number of months, weeks or days paid for prior periods of service, does not exceed the total of months, weeks or days that would have been paid had the service been continuous.

            (g)      In the event of the death of an eligible staff member, no payment shall be made unless there is a surviving spouse or one or more dependent children whom the United Nations is obligated to repatriate. If there are one or more such survivors, payment shall be made under terms and conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Time limitation for submission of the claim

            (h)      Entitlement to the repatriation grant shall cease if no claim has been submitted within two years after the effective date of separation, or under conditions established by the Secretary-General. However, when both spouses are staff members and the spouse who separates first is entitled to the repatriation grant, the claim for payment of the grant by that spouse shall be considered receivable if made within two years of the date of separation of the other spouse.

                         Rule 9.13

                         Last day for pay purposes

            (a)       When a staff member is separated from service, the date on which entitlement to salary, allowances and benefits shall cease shall be determined according to the table below.

            (b)       When an internationally recruited staff member has an entitlement to return travel under staff rule 7.2 (a) (viii), this shall not affect the determination of the last day for pay purposes in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) above. In the case of resignation, expiration of temporary or fixed-term appointment, termination or retirement, the staff member shall be paid, on separation, an additional amount for days of authorized travel estimated on the basis of uninterrupted travel by an approved route, mode and standard of travel from the duty station to the place of entitlement to return travel. Such amount shall be calculated as is done for the commutation of accrued annual leave under staff rule 9.10 above.

                         Rule 9.14

                         Certification of service

            Any staff member who so requests shall, on leaving the service of the United Nations, be given a statement relating to the functions performed and the length of service. On the staff member’s written request, the statement shall also refer to the staff member’s quality of work and official conduct.

                         Article X

                         Disciplinary measures

                         Regulation 10.1

            (a)       The Secretary-General may impose disciplinary measures on staff members who engage in misconduct;

            (b)       Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse constitute serious misconduct.

                         Chapter X

                         Rule 10.1

                         Misconduct

            (a)       Failure by staff members to comply with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, the Staff Regulations and Rules or other relevant administrative issuances or to observe the standards of conduct expected of an international civil servant may amount to misconduct and may lead to the institution of a disciplinary process and the imposition of disciplinary measures for misconduct.

            (b)       Where the Secretary-General determines that a staff member’s conduct constituted misconduct, and that the staff member’s conduct was wilful, reckless or grossly negligent, the staff member may be required to reimburse the United Nations either partially or in full for any financial loss suffered by the United Nations as a result of the staff member’s conduct.

            (c)       The decision to investigate allegations of misconduct, to institute a disciplinary process and to impose a disciplinary measure shall be within the discretionary authority of the Secretary-General or officials with delegated authority.

                         Rule 10.2

            (a)       Disciplinary measures may take one or more of the following forms only:

            (i)        Written censure;

            (ii)       Loss of one or more steps in grade;

            (iii)      Deferment, for a specified period, of eligibility for salary increment;

            (iv)      Suspension without pay for a specified period;

            (v)       Fine;

            (vi)      Deferment, for a specified period, of eligibility for consideration for promotion;

            (vii)     Demotion with deferment, for a specified period, of eligibility for consideration for promotion;

            (viii)    Separation from service, with notice or compensation in lieu of notice, notwithstanding staff rule 9.7 (Notice of termination), and with or without termination indemnity pursuant to paragraph (c) of annex III to the Staff Regulations;

            (ix)      Dismissal.

            (b)       Measures other than those listed under paragraph (a) above shall not be considered disciplinary measures. Such measures are administrative measures that include, but are not limited to, the following:

            (i)        Written or oral reprimand;

            (ii)       Recovery of monies owed to the Organization;

            (iii)      Administrative leave with full or partial pay or without pay pending investigation and the disciplinary process pursuant to staff rule 10.4.

            (c)       A staff member shall be provided with the opportunity to comment on the facts and circumstances prior to the issuance of a written or oral reprimand pursuant to subparagraph (b) (i) above.

                         Rule 10.3

                         Due process in a disciplinary process

            (a)       The Secretary-General may initiate a disciplinary process where the findings of an investigation indicate that misconduct may have occurred. No disciplinary measure may be imposed on a staff member following the completion of an investigation unless the staff member has been notified, in writing, of the formal allegations of misconduct against the staff member and has been given the opportunity to respond to those formal allegations. The staff member shall also be informed of the right to seek the assistance of counsel in the staff member’s defence through the Office of Staff Legal Assistance, or from outside counsel at the staff member’s own expense.

            (b)       Any disciplinary measure imposed on a staff member shall be proportionate to the nature and gravity of the staff member’s misconduct.

            (c)       A staff member against whom disciplinary or non-disciplinary measures, pursuant to staff rule 10.2, have been imposed following the completion of a disciplinary process may submit an application challenging the imposition of such measures directly to the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, in accordance with chapter XI (Appeals) of the Staff Rules.

            (d)       An appeal against a judgment of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal by the staff member or by the Secretary-General may be filed with the United Nations Appeals Tribunal in accordance with chapter XI (Appeals) of the Staff Rules.

                         Rule 10.4

                         Administrative leave pending investigation and the disciplinary process

            (a)       A staff member may be placed on administrative leave, under conditions established by the Secretary-General, at any time after an allegation of misconduct and pending the completion of a disciplinary process. Administrative leave may continue until the completion of the disciplinary process.

            (b)       A staff member placed on administrative leave pursuant to paragraph (a) above shall be given a written statement of the reason(s) for such leave and its probable duration.

            (c)       Administrative leave shall be with full pay except (i) in cases where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a staff member engaged in sexual exploitation and/or sexual abuse, in which case the placement of the staff member on administrative leave shall be without pay, or (ii) when the Secretary-General decides that exceptional circumstances exist which warrant the placement of a staff member on administrative leave with partial pay or without pay.

            (d)       Placement on administrative leave shall be without prejudice to the rights of the staff member and shall not constitute a disciplinary measure. If administrative leave is with partial pay or without pay and the staff member’s conduct at issue does not lead to the imposition of the disciplinary measure of dismissal or separation from service, any pay withheld shall be restored without delay.

            (e)       A staff member who has been placed on administrative leave may challenge the decision to place him or her on such leave in accordance with chapter XI (Appeals) of the Staff Rules.

                         Article XI

                         Appeals

                         Regulation 11.1

            There shall be a two-tier formal system of administration of justice:

            (a)       The United Nations Dispute Tribunal shall, under conditions prescribed in its statute and rules, hear and render judgment on an application from a staff member alleging non-compliance with his or her terms of appointment or the contract of employment, including all pertinent regulations and rules;

            (b)       The United Nations Appeals Tribunal shall, under conditions prescribed in its statute and rules, exercise appellate jurisdiction over an appeal of a judgment rendered by the United Nations Dispute Tribunal submitted by either party.

                         Chapter XI

                         Rule 11.1

                         Informal resolution

            (a)       Staff members who considers that their contract of employment or terms of appointment have been violated are encouraged to attempt to have the matter resolved informally. To that end, a staff member who wishes to pursue informal channels should approach the Office of the Ombudsman without delay, without prejudice to the right to pursue the matter formally in accordance with the provisions of the present chapter.

            (b)       Both the staff member and the Secretary-General may initiate informal resolution, including mediation, of the issues involved at any time before or after the staff member chooses to pursue the matter formally.

            (c)       The conduct of informal resolution by the Office of the Ombudsman, including mediation, may result in the extension of the deadlines applicable to management evaluation and to the filing of an application with the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, as specified in staff rules 11.2 (c) and (d) and 11.4 (c) below.

            (d)       An application shall not be receivable by the United Nations Dispute Tribunal if the dispute arising from a contested decision has been resolved by an agreement reached through mediation. However, a staff member may submit an application directly with the Dispute Tribunal to enforce the implementation of an agreement reached through mediation within 90 calendar days of the deadline for implementation as specified in the mediation agreement or, when the mediation agreement is silent on the matter, within 90 calendar days of the thirtieth calendar day from the date on which the agreement was signed.

                         Rule 11.2

                         Management evaluation

            (a)       Staff members wishing to formally contest an administrative decision alleging non-compliance with their contract of employment or terms of appointment, including all pertinent regulations and rules pursuant to staff regulation 11.1 (a), shall, as a first step, submit to the Secretary-General in writing a request for a management evaluation of the administrative decision.

            (b)       A staff member wishing to formally contest an administrative decision taken pursuant to advice obtained from a duly designated technical body, as determined by the Secretary-General, or of a decision taken at Headquarters in New York to impose a disciplinary or non-disciplinary measure pursuant to staff rule 10.2 (Disciplinary measures) following the completion of a disciplinary process is not required to request a management evaluation.

            (c)       A request for a management evaluation shall not be receivable by the Secretary-General unless it is sent within 60 calendar days from the date on which the staff member received notification of the administrative decision to be contested. This deadline may be extended by the Secretary-General pending efforts for informal resolution conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman, under conditions specified by the Secretary-General.

            (d)       The Secretary-General’s response, reflecting the outcome of the management evaluation, shall be communicated in writing to the staff member within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request for management evaluation if the staff member is stationed in New York, and within 45 calendar days of receipt of the request for management evaluation if the staff member is stationed outside of New York. The deadline may be extended by the Secretary-General pending efforts for informal resolution by the Office of the Ombudsman, under conditions specified by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 11.3

                         Suspension of action

            (a)       Neither the submission of a request for a management evaluation nor the filing of an application with the United Nations Dispute Tribunal shall have the effect of suspending the implementation of the contested administrative decision.

            (b)       However, where a management evaluation of an administrative decision is required:

            (i)        A staff member may submit an application requesting the United Nations Dispute Tribunal to suspend the implementation of the contested administrative decision until the management evaluation has been completed and the staff member has received notification of the outcome. In accordance with article 2, paragraph 2, of its statute, the Dispute Tribunal may suspend the implementation of a decision where the decision appears prima facie to be unlawful, in cases of particular urgency and where its implementation would cause irreparable damage. The Dispute Tribunal’s decision on such an application is not subject to appeal;

            (ii)       In cases involving separation from service, a staff member may opt to first request the Secretary-General to suspend the implementation of the decision until the management evaluation has been completed and the staff member has received notification of the outcome. The Secretary-General, after determining that the decision has not yet been implemented, may suspend its implementation where it appears prima facie to be unlawful, in cases of particular urgency and where its implementation would cause irreparable damage to the staff member’s rights. If the Secretary-General rejects the request, the staff member may then submit a request for suspension of action to the Dispute Tribunal under subparagraph (b) (i) above.

                         Rule 11.4

                         United Nations Dispute Tribunal

            (a)       A staff member may file an application against a contested administrative decision, whether or not it has been amended by any management evaluation, with the United Nations Dispute Tribunal within 90 calendar days from the date on which the staff member received the outcome of the management evaluation or from the date of expiration of the deadline specified under staff rule 11.2 (d), whichever is earlier.

            (b)       When staff members are not required to request a management evaluation, pursuant to staff rule 11.2 (b), he or she may file an application directly with the United Nations Dispute Tribunal within 90 calendar days from the date on which they received notification of the contested administrative decision.

            (c)       Where mediation has been pursued by either party within the deadline for filing an application with the United Nations Dispute Tribunal specified in staff rule 11.4 (a) or (b) and the mediation is deemed to have failed in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Mediation Division of the Office of the Ombudsman, the staff member may file an application with the Dispute Tribunal within 90 calendar days of the end of the mediation.

            (d)       Staff members shall have the assistance of counsel through the Office of Staff Legal Assistance if they so wish, or may retain outside counsel at their own expense, in the presentation of their case before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal.

            (e)       A staff association may request permission from the United Nations Dispute Tribunal to submit a friend-of-the-court brief in relation to an application filed by a staff member.

            (f)        A staff member who is entitled to appeal the same administrative decision that is the subject of an application brought by another staff member may request permission from the United Nations Dispute Tribunal to intervene in the matter.

            (g)       In accordance with article 2, paragraph 1, of its statute, the United Nations Dispute Tribunal has jurisdiction over an application filed by a staff member:

            (i)        To appeal an administrative decision that is alleged to not be in compliance with a staff member’s contract of employment or terms of appointment, including all pertinent regulations and rules and all relevant administrative issuances in force at the time of the alleged non-compliance;

            (ii)       To appeal an administrative decision imposing a disciplinary measure;

            (iii)      To enforce the implementation of an agreement reached through mediation.

            (h)       The competence of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, as set forth in its statute, includes the authority:

            (i)        To suspend proceedings in a case at the request of the parties for a time to be specified by it in writing;

            (ii)       To order, at any time during the proceedings, an interim measure, which is not subject to appeal, to provide temporary relief to either party where the contested decision appears prima facie to be unlawful, in cases of particular urgency, and where its implementation would cause irreparable damage. Such temporary relief may include suspension of the implementation of the contested administrative decision, except in cases of appointment, promotion or termination;

            (iii)      To refer, at any time during its deliberations, a matter to mediation with the consent of both parties.

                         Rule 11.5

                         United Nations Appeals Tribunal

            (a)       In accordance with article 2, paragraph 1, of its statute, the United Nations Appeals Tribunal shall have jurisdiction over an appeal against a judgment of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal alleging that the Dispute Tribunal has:

            (i)        Exceeded its jurisdiction or competence;

            (ii)       Failed to exercise jurisdiction vested in it;

            (iii)      Erred on a question of law;

            (iv)      Committed an error in procedure, such as to affect the decision of the case; or

            (v)       Erred on a question of fact, resulting in a manifestly unreasonable decision.

            (b)       An appeal may be filed by either party against the judgment of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal within 60 calendar days following receipt of the Dispute Tribunal’s judgment. An appeal shall not be receivable by the United Nations Appeals Tribunal unless the deadline has been met or has been waived or suspended by the Appeals Tribunal.

            (c)       The filing of an appeal with the United Nations Appeals Tribunal shall have the effect of suspending the execution of a judgment of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal that is contested.

            (d)       Staff members shall have the assistance of counsel through the Office of Staff Legal Assistance if they so wish or may retain outside counsel at their own expense in the presentation of their case before the United Nations Appeals Tribunal.

            (e)       The competence of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal, as set forth in its statute, includes the authority:

            (i)        To decide, at its own initiative or at the request of either party, that exceptional circumstances require the proceedings to be closed;

            (ii)       To order an interim measure to provide temporary relief to either party to prevent irreparable harm and to maintain consistency with the judgment of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal.

                         Article XII

                         General provisions

                         Regulation 12.1

            The present Regulations may be supplemented or amended by the General Assembly, without prejudice to the acquired rights of staff members.

                         Regulation 12.2

            Such staff rules and amendments as the Secretary-General may make to implement the present Regulations shall be provisional until the requirements of regulations 12.3 and 12.4 below have been met.

                         Regulation 12.3

            The full text of provisional staff rules and amendments shall be reported annually to the General Assembly. Should the Assembly find that a provisional rule and/or amendment is inconsistent with the intent and purpose of the Regulations, it may direct that the rule and/or amendment be withdrawn or modified.

                         Regulation 12.4

            The provisional rules and amendments reported by the Secretary-General, taking into account such modifications and/or deletions as may be directed by the General Assembly, shall enter into full force and effect on 1 January following the year in which the report is made to the Assembly.

                         Regulation 12.5

            Staff rules shall not give rise to acquired rights within the meaning of regulation 12.1 while they are provisional.

                         Chapter XII

                         Rule 12.1

                         Applicability

            Staff rules 1.1 (Status of staff) to 13.6 (Repatriation grant) are applicable to all staff members appointed by the Secretary-General.

                         Rule 12.2

                         Gender of terms

            (a)       In the text of the Staff Rules, reference to staff members in the masculine gender shall apply to staff members of both sexes, unless it is clearly inappropriate from the context to do so.

            (b)       In the text of the Staff Rules, reference to the Secretary-General in the masculine gender shall apply to Secretaries-General of both sexes, unless it is clearly inappropriate from the context to do so.

                         Rule 12.3

                         Amendments of and exceptions to the Staff Rules

            (a)       Subject to staff regulations in article XII (General provisions), the Staff Rules may be amended by the Secretary-General in a manner consistent with the Staff Regulations.

            (b)       Exceptions to the Staff Rules may be made by the Secretary-General, provided that such exception is not inconsistent with any staff regulation or other decision of the General Assembly and provided further that it is agreed to by the staff member directly affected and is, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, not prejudicial to the interests of any other staff member or group of staff members.

                         Rule 12.4

                         Effective date and authentic texts of rules

            Except as otherwise indicated and subject always to the provisions of staff regulations in article XII (General provisions), staff rules 1.7, 3.17, 4.1, 4.3, 4.6, 4.11, 4.12, 4.14, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 7.4, 8.2, 9.1, 9.4, 12.2 and 13.5 and appendices A and C as published in the present bulletin shall be effective on 1 January 2023. All other staff rules as published in the present bulletin shall be provisionally effective on 1 January 2023. The English and French texts of the Staff Rules are equally authoritative.

                         Chapter XIII

                         Transitional measures

                         Rule 13.1

            (a)       The salary levels of staff members in the Professional and higher categories and in the Field Service category that were higher than those at the maximum step of their grade upon conversion to the unified salary scale on 1 January 2017 shall be maintained as a pay protection measure, until such time as the staff member is selected for a position at a higher level within the same category or separated from service.

            (b)       Such salaries shall be adjusted for any consolidation of post adjustment to base salaries as approved by the General Assembly. Pensionable remuneration at those steps shall be maintained and shall be adjusted corresponding to those salaries when the pensionable remuneration scale is adjusted.

                         Rule 13.2

                         Permanent appointment

            (a)       Staff members holding a permanent appointment shall retain the appointment until they separate from the Organization. Effective 1 July 2009, all permanent appointments shall be governed by the terms and conditions applicable to continuing appointments under the Staff Regulations and the Staff Rules, except as provided under the present rule.

            (b)       (i)        The senior review bodies and central review bodies shall review recommendations for the termination of permanent appointments for unsatisfactory service under staff regulation 9.3 (a) (ii);

            (ii)       No termination under staff regulation 9.3 (a) (v) shall take place until the matter has been considered and reported on by a special advisory board appointed for that purpose by the Secretary-General. The special advisory board shall be composed of a Chair appointed by the Secretary-General on the nomination of the President of the International Court of Justice and four members appointed by the Secretary-General in agreement with the Staff Council.

            (c)       Staff regulation 9.3 (b) does not apply to permanent appointments.

            (d)       If the necessities of service require abolition of a post or reduction of the staff and subject to the availability of suitable posts for which their services can be effectively utilized, staff members with permanent appointments shall be retained in preference to those on all other types of appointments, provided that due regard shall be given in all cases to relative competence, integrity and length of service. Due regard shall also be given to nationality in the case of staff members with no more than five years of service and in the case of staff members who have changed their nationality within the preceding five years when the suitable posts available are subject to the principle of geographical distribution.

            (e)       The provisions of paragraph (d) above insofar as they relate to staff members in the General Service and related categories shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such staff members have received consideration for suitable posts available within their parent organization at their duty station.

            (f)        Staff members specifically recruited for service with the United Nations Secretariat or with any programme, fund or subsidiary organ of the United Nations that enjoys a special status in matters of appointment under a resolution of the General Assembly or as a result of an agreement entered by the Secretary-General have no entitlement under paragraph (e) above for consideration for posts outside the organ for which they were recruited.

                         Rule 13.3

                         Indefinite appointment

            (a)       A staff member holding an indefinite appointment as at 30 June 2009 shall retain the appointment until the staff member separates from the Organization. Effective 1 July 2009, the staff member’s indefinite appointment shall be governed by the terms and conditions applicable to continuing appointments under the Staff Regulations and the Staff Rules, except as provided under the present rule.

            (b)       Staff members holding an indefinite appointment may resign by giving 30 days’ written notice.

            (c)       The Secretary-General may at any time terminate the appointment of a staff member who holds an indefinite appointment if in the opinion of the Secretary-General such action would be in the interest of the United Nations. Staff regulation 9.3 (b) does not apply to indefinite appointments.

                         Rule 13.4

                         Acquired right to normal retirement age

            (a)       Staff members with a pension participation start or restart date prior to 1 January 2014 have an acquired right to their normal retirement age as defined under staff rule 9.5 (Retirement).

            (b)       Staff members who wish to exercise their acquired right as described in paragraph (a) above and separate from service at their normal age of retirement or anytime thereafter before the age of 65 shall give written notice of three months if holding a continuing appointment, or 30 calendar days if holding a fixed-term appointment. The Secretary-General may, however, accept shorter notice.

            (c)       The mandatory age of separation of a staff member who reaches the age of 60 or 62 on or prior to 31 December 2017 shall not be reset to 65, including if that staff member is exceptionally retained in service beyond the mandatory age of separation of 60 or 62, as applicable, beyond 1 January 2018.

                         Rule 13.5

                         Acquired rights to pensionable remuneration levels

            The levels of pensionable remuneration shall be protected for any staff members who would otherwise have a lower level of pensionable remuneration following the entry into force of the revised common scale of staff assessment on 1 January 2019.

                         Rule 13.6

            A staff member who was eligible for a repatriation grant under staff rule 3.19 (Repatriation grant) in effect on 30 June 2016, but who is no longer eligible for such grant under staff rule 9.12 (Repatriation grant), shall be paid a repatriation grant in accordance with the schedule set out in annex IV to the Staff Regulations in effect on 30 June 2016 for the number of years of qualifying service accrued as at 30 June 2016.

        Annex I

                         Salary scales and related provisions

1.        The Secretary-General shall establish the salary of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and the salaries of United Nations officials in the Director category and above, in accordance with amounts determined by the General Assembly, subject to the staff assessment plan provided in staff regulation 3.3 and to post adjustments wherever applied. If otherwise eligible, they shall receive the allowances that are available to staff members generally.

2.        The Secretary-General is authorized, on the basis of appropriate justification and/or reporting, to make additional payments to United Nations officials in the Director category and above to compensate for such special costs as may be reasonably incurred, in the interests of the Organization, in the performance of duties assigned to them by the Secretary-General. Similar additional payments in similar circumstances may be made to heads of offices away from Headquarters. The maximum total amount of such payments is to be determined in the programme budget by the General Assembly.

3.        Except as provided in paragraph 6 of the present annex, the salary scales for staff members in the Professional and higher categories shall be as shown in the present annex.

4.        Subject to satisfactory service, salary increments within the Professional levels shall be awarded annually, except that any increments above step VII shall be preceded by two years at the previous step.

5.        Salary increments at the D-1 level shall be awarded annually, except that any increments above step IV shall be preceded by two years at the previous step. Salary increments at the D-2 level shall be awarded biennially.

6.        The Secretary-General shall determine the salary rates to be paid to personnel specifically engaged for short-term missions, conference and other short-term service, to consultants, to Field Service personnel and to technical assistance experts.

7.        The Secretary-General shall fix the salary scales for staff members in the General Service and related categories, normally on the basis of the best prevailing conditions of employment in the locality of the United Nations Office concerned, provided that the Secretary-General may, where he or she deems it appropriate, establish rules and salary limits for payment of non-resident allowance to General Service staff members recruited from outside the local area. The gross pensionable remuneration of such staff shall be determined in accordance with the methodology specified in article 51 (a) of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and are shown in the salary scales applicable to such staff.

8.        The Secretary-General shall establish rules under which a language allowance may be paid to staff members in the General Service category who pass an appropriate test and demonstrate continued proficiency in the use of two or more official languages.

9.        In order to preserve equivalent standards of living at different offices, the Secretary-General may adjust the basic salaries set forth in paragraphs 1 and 3 of the present annex by the application of non-pensionable post adjustments based on relative costs of living, standards of living and related factors at the office concerned as compared to New York. Such post adjustments shall not be subject to staff assessment.

10.      No salary shall be paid to staff members in respect of periods of unauthorized absence from work unless such absence was caused by reasons beyond their control or duly certified medical reasons.

Salary scale for staff in the Professional and higher categories showing annual gross salaries and net equivalents after application of staff assessment

Effective 1 January 2023 a

(United States dollars)

Abbreviations : ASG, Assistant Secretary-General; USG, Under-Secretary-General.

   a The normal qualifying period for in-grade movement between consecutive steps is one year. The shaded steps in each grade require two years of qualifying service at the preceding step.

                         Pay protection measures for staff in the Professional and higher categories whose salaries are higher than the maximum salaries on the unified salary scales, with effect from 1 January 2023, showing annual gross salaries and net equivalents after application of staff assessment

                         Effective 1 January 2023

       Annex II

                         Letters of appointment

            (a)       The letter of appointment shall state:

            (i)        That the appointment is subject to the provisions of the Staff Regulations and of the Staff Rules applicable to the category of appointment in question and to changes which may be duly made in such regulations and rules from time to time;

            (ii)       The nature of the appointment;

            (iii)      The date at which the staff member is required to enter upon his or her duties;

            (iv)      The period of appointment, the notice required to terminate it and the period of probation, if any;

            (v)       The category, level, commencing rate of salary and, if increments are allowable, the scale of increments, and the maximum attainable;

            (vi)      Any special conditions which may be applicable;

            (vii)     That a temporary appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal. A temporary appointment shall not be converted to any other type of appointment;

            (viii)    That a fixed-term appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal or conversion, irrespective of the length of service.

            (b)       A copy of the Staff Regulations and the Staff Rules shall be transmitted to the staff member with the letter of appointment. In accepting appointment the staff member shall state that he or she has been acquainted with and accepts the conditions laid down in the Staff Regulations and in the Staff Rules.

            (c)       The letter of appointment of a staff member on secondment from government service signed by the staff member and by or on behalf of the Secretary-General, and relevant supporting documentation of the terms and conditions of secondment agreed to by the Member State and the staff member, shall be evidence of the existence and validity of secondment from government service to the Organization for the period stated in the letter of appointment.

      Annex III

            Staff members whose appointments are terminated shall be paid an indemnity in accordance with the following provisions:

            (a)       Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e) below and in regulation 9.3, the termination indemnity shall be paid in accordance with the following schedule:

            (b)       A staff member whose appointment is terminated for reasons of health shall receive an indemnity equal to the indemnity provided under paragraph (a) of the present annex reduced by the amount of any disability benefit that the staff member may receive under the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the number of months to which the indemnity rate corresponds;

            (c)       A staff member whose appointment is terminated for unsatisfactory service or who for disciplinary reasons is separated from service for misconduct other than by dismissal may be paid, at the discretion of the Secretary-General, an indemnity not exceeding one half of the indemnity provided under paragraph (a) of the present annex;

            (d)       No indemnity payments shall be made to:

            (i)        A staff member who resigns, except where termination notice has been given and the termination date agreed upon;

            (ii)       A staff member who has a temporary or a fixed-term appointment that is completed on the expiration date specified in the letter of appointment;

            (iii)      A staff member who is dismissed;

            (iv)      A staff member who abandons his or her post;

            (v)       A staff member who is retired under the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund;

            (e)       Personnel specifically engaged for conference and other short-term service, as consultants or as experts, and staff members who are locally recruited for service in established offices away from Headquarters may be paid termination indemnity if and as provided in their letters of appointment.

            In principle, the repatriation grant shall be payable to staff members who have completed at least five years of qualifying service, whom the Organization is obligated to repatriate and who at the time of separation are residing, by virtue of their service with the United Nations, outside their country of nationality. The repatriation grant shall not, however, be paid to a staff member who is dismissed. Eligible staff members shall be entitled to a repatriation grant only upon relocation outside the country of the duty station. Detailed conditions and definitions relating to eligibility and requisite evidence of relocation shall be determined by the Secretary-General.

                         Pensionable remuneration for staff in the Professional and higher categories and salary scales and pensionable remuneration for staff in the Field Service category

Pensionable remuneration for staff in the Professional and higher categories

Effective 1 February 2022

Salary scale for staff in the Field Service category, showing annual gross salaries and net equivalents after application of staff assessment

Effective 1 January 2023

   * The normal qualifying period for in-grade movement between consecutive steps is one year up to step VII; starting with step VIII, a two-year period at the preceding step is required.

                         Pay protection measures for staff in the Field Service category whose salaries are higher than the maximum salaries on the base/floor salary scales, with effect from 1 January 2023, showing annual gross salaries and net equivalents after application of staff assessment

Pensionable remuneration for staff in the Field Service category

                         Pensionable remuneration for staff members subject to pay protection measures

                         Effective 1 February 2022

                         Education grant entitlements

                         Admissible expenses

(a)      Admissible expenses shall include tuition, tuition in the mother tongue and enrolment-related fees. Non-reimbursable capital assessment fees shall be reimbursed outside the education grant scheme, under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Admissible expenses actually incurred shall be reimbursed at the rates indicated in the sliding scale below.

                         Education grant entitlements in effect as of the school year in progress on 1 January 2022

(b)      In addition to the reimbursement of admissible expenses, a lump-sum amount of $5,300 shall be paid to staff members serving in duty stations classified as “A” to “E” by the International Civil Service Commission whose child is boarding to attend school at the primary or secondary level outside the staff member’s duty station. In exceptional cases and at the discretion of the Secretary-General, the lump-sum boarding assistance may be granted to a staff member at a headquarters duty station in respect of a child boarding to attend school at the primary and secondary levels outside the duty station.

(c)       The lump-sum amount for boarding assistance shall also be payable to a staff member serving at a duty station classified as “A” to “E” by the International Civil Service Commission whose child is boarding to attend school at the primary or secondary level when the educational institution is located beyond commuting distance from the area where the staff member is serving and, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, no school in that area would be suitable for the child.

                         Special education grant

(d)      Under conditions established by the Secretary-General, admissible expenses for a child with a disability shall include those educational expenses required to provide an educational programme designed to meet the needs of the child so that the child may attain the highest level of functional ability. The amount of the grant for each child with a disability shall be 100 per cent of the admissible expenses actually incurred, subject to a maximum reimbursement equal to the upper limit of the top bracket of the sliding scale in paragraph (i) above.

(e)      When boarding is provided, the actual expenses shall be included in the calculation of the admissible expenses, subject to a maximum reimbursement equal to the upper limit of the top bracket of the sliding scale in paragraph (i) above plus the amount of 5,300 United States dollars, equivalent to the lump sum for boarding assistance.

  Appendix C

                         Arrangements relating to military service

            (a)       In accordance with section 18 (c) of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, staff members who are nationals of those Member States which have acceded to that Convention shall be “immune from national service obligations” in the armed services of the country of their nationality.

            (b)       Any requests to Governments which have not acceded to the Convention to defer or exempt staff members from military service by reason of their employment with the United Nations shall be made by the Secretary-General and not by the staff member concerned.

            (c)       Staff members who have successfully passed a competitive examination and have completed one year of satisfactory service under a fixed-term appointment or who have a continuing appointment may, if called by a Member Government for military service, whether for training or active duty, be placed on special leave without pay for the duration of their required military service. Other staff members, if called for military service, shall be separated from the Secretariat according to the terms of their appointments.

            (d)       A staff member called for military service who is placed on special leave without pay shall have the terms of appointment maintained as they were on the last day of service before the staff member went on leave without pay. The staff member’s re-employment in the Secretariat shall be guaranteed, subject only to the normal rules governing necessary reductions in force or abolition of posts.

            (e)       In the interpretation of staff rule 9.6 (e) the period of special leave without pay for military service shall be counted for the purpose of establishing seniority.

            (f)        A staff member on special leave without pay for military service shall be required to advise the Secretary-General within 90 days after release from military service if the staff member wishes to be restored to active duty with the Secretariat. The staff member shall also be required to submit a certificate of completion of military service.

            (g)       If a staff member, after the period of required military service, elects to continue such service or if the staff member fails to obtain a certified release therefrom, the Secretary-General will determine, on the merits of the particular case, whether further special leave without pay will be granted and whether re employment rights shall be maintained.

            (h)       If the staff member’s absence on special leave without pay appears likely to last six months or more, the United Nations will pay, if so requested, for transporting the staff member’s spouse and dependent children to the staff member’s place of entitlement and for their return travel after the staff member’s return to active duty with the Secretariat, provided that the expenses involved will be counted as travel expenses related to the next home leave entitlement of the staff member.

            (i)        The United Nations shall not continue its contribution to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund on behalf of the staff member during the staff member’s absence on special leave without pay for military service.

            (j)        The provisions of staff rule 6.4 relating to death, injury or illness attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations shall not be applicable during periods of military service.

            (k)       The Secretary-General may, if the circumstances of the military service appear to warrant it, credit the staff member’s period on special leave without pay for military service in fixing the salary step upon the staff member’s return to active duty with the Secretariat.

            (l)        The Secretary-General may apply such of the foregoing provisions as are appropriate in the case of a staff member who, with the advance approval of the Secretary-General, volunteers for military service or requests a waiver of immunity under section 18 (c) of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

  Appendix D

                         Rules governing compensation in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations

                         Section I

                         Scope and general provisions

                         Article 1.1

                         Purpose and scope

            The present rules provide for compensation for death, injury or illness attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations, as set out below. Compensation shall be provided solely to staff members and their dependants, in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the present rules.

                         Article 1.2

                         Exclusiveness of remedy; non-assignment

            Compensation or other forms of recourse provided under the present rules constitute the sole remedy for service-incurred death, injury or illness. The United Nations will not accept, consider or provide compensation or benefits for service-incurred death, injury or illness except under the present rules. Except as set forth below, compensation and rights shall not be assignable to third parties.

                         Article 1.3

                         Terminology

            The following terminology applies for the purposes of the present rules:

            (a)       Claimant: the staff member or dependant, as defined below, bringing a claim under these rules.

            (b)       Dependant: the spouse, dependent child or secondary dependant as set forth in the Staff Rules. Compensation payable on the basis of or benefit payable to a dependent child or secondary dependent sibling ceases on the day the dependent child or secondary dependent sibling reaches the age of 18, or 21 if the dependent child or secondary dependent sibling is attending university or its equivalent full-time. This restriction does not apply where and as long as the dependent child or secondary dependent sibling has a disability that is permanent or for a period that is expected to be long-term that prevents gainful employment.

            (c)       Minor: an individual under the age of 18, or the age of majority under the laws of the country of residence of such individual, if the age of majority in the individual’s country of residency is less than 18 years of age.

            (d)       Illness: a deterioration in health as confirmed by a physician authorized to practise medicine by a competent authority.

            (e)       Injury: a physiological impairment as confirmed by a physician authorized to practise medicine by a competent authority.

            (f)        Incident: an event causing the death, injury or illness underlying a claim.

            (g)       Commute or commuting: travel by reasonable means of transportation and on a direct route, by time or distance, between place of work and residence. A direct route is deemed to commence upon departure from, or be terminated on arrival at, United Nations premises or the property line at the designated place of work or the property line of the staff member’s place of residence, such residence including yards, lawns, driveways, garages, stairways, entrances, elevators, basements, hallways or common areas, without deliberate deviation from such route.

            (h)       Reasonable means of transportation: a generally accepted means of transportation under the circumstances. Transportation by a particularly hazardous means is not considered a reasonable means of transportation for the purposes of the present rules.

            (i)        Service-incurred death, injury or illness: a death, injury or illness where the death, injury or illness is directly attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations under the terms and conditions set out in the present rules.

            (j)        Pensionable remuneration: the definition of pensionable remuneration is set out in article 51 of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. If the staff member was not a participant in the Fund at the date of the staff member’s death, injury or illness, remuneration shall be that which, had the staff member been a participant, would have been considered the staff member’s pensionable remuneration at that date.

            (k)       Last pensionable remuneration: the pensionable remuneration at the time of (i) the incident, in the case of permanent disfigurement or permanent loss of function; (ii) the separation from service, in the case of total disability; or (iii) the date of death, in the case of death. If the staff member was not a participant in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund at the date of the staff member’s death, injury or illness, the remuneration shall be that which, had the staff member been a participant, would have been considered the staff member’s pensionable remuneration at that date.

            (l)        United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund benefits: the definition of Fund benefits is set out in article 3.7 below, on the relation to benefits under the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

            (m)     Lump sum: a one-time payment of compensation.

            (n)       Pre-existing medical condition: an illness, injury or impairment that exists prior to the incident resulting in the service-incurred death, injury or illness.

            (o)       Total disability: incapacity for further work reasonably compatible with the claimant’s abilities, in which such incapacity is due to a service-incurred injury or illness that is likely to be long-term or permanent. The resulting incapacity must have a significant adverse impact on the claimant’s actual earnings, as determined by the Secretary-General under the Staff Rules. A determination of total disability under the Staff Rules shall be independent of a finding of disability under the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

                         Article 1.4

                         Advisory Board on Compensation Claims

            (a)       The Secretary-General has established the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims to consider claims for compensation arising from a service-incurred death, injury or illness and to make recommendations thereon to the Secretary-General.

            (b)       The Board may adopt procedures as it considers necessary for discharging its functions under the present article, provided that, in cases of conflict, the present rules prevail.

            (c)       Composition of the Board:

            (i)        Voting members:

                        a.        Three representatives of the Administration appointed by the Secretary-General;

                        b.        Three representatives of the staff appointed by the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the staff representative bodies;

            (ii)       Ex officio members:

                        a.        Representatives from the Office of Legal Affairs and the Medical Services Division of the Secretariat may be appointed by the Secretary-General to serve as ex officio representatives. Representatives from the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund may be appointed by the Chief Executive of Pension Administration to serve as ex officio representatives;

                        b.        Such ex officio representatives shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Board to provide guidance to the Board with respect to the interpretation of the rules and issues relevant to their offices.

                         Article 1.5

                         Secretary of the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims

            (a)       The Secretary of the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims shall be designated by the Secretary-General or other authorized official. The Secretary may not, at the same time, be a member of the Board.

            (b)       The Secretary of the Board is responsible for preparing claims submitted under the present rules for consideration by the Board or the official with delegated authority to consider de minimis claims, as set forth in article 1.6 below. In discharging the functions and responsibilities under these rules, the Secretary will seek to obtain sufficient and relevant documentary evidence from appropriate sources.

                         Article 1.6

                         De minimis claims

            If it is determined that: (a) the potential cumulative cost to the United Nations of a claim is less than an amount determined by the Secretary-General or officials with delegated authority; and (b) the claim is solely for reimbursement of medical expenses, funeral expenses, compensation for permanent disfigurement or loss of function, or granting of sick leave credit, the official with delegated authority to consider such de minimis claims may make determinations on the compensability of a claim, without the consideration of the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims. If the official with delegated authority to consider de minimis claims makes a determination on a claim, and the claim later exceeds the amount for de minimis claims, the claim shall be presented to the Board for new consideration.

                         Article 1.7

                         Role of the Medical Services Division

            (a)       The Medical Services Division shall make a medical determination for consideration by the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims or the official with delegated authority to consider de minimis claims. Such a determination may include:

            (i)        Whether a death, injury or illness is directly causatively related to an incident;

            (ii)       Whether a death, injury or illness is directly causatively related to the performance of official duties;

            (iii)      Whether treatment or services are directly related to a service-incurred injury or illness;

            (iv)      Whether treatment or services are reasonably necessary for the treatment of such an injury or illness;

            (v)       Whether medical expenses are at a reasonable cost for the treatment or services provided;

            (vi)      Whether absence from work is directly related to a service-incurred injury or illness;

            (vii)     Whether a claimant has reached maximum medical improvement, in order to assess a permanent loss of function;

            (viii)    Permanent disfigurement or loss of function;

            (ix)      Total disability.

            (b)       In accordance with staff rule 6.2 (h), a staff member may be required to undergo a medical examination by a medical practitioner designated by the United Nations Medical Director, with the cost to be borne by the Organization, in order to clarify findings or to further assess the claim in connection with any of the determinations made pursuant to the present article. A staff member may also be required to provide further information in connection with any of the determinations made pursuant to the present article.

                         Article 1.8

                         General obligations of claimant

            (a)       The claimant must provide the evidence necessary to fully support a claim for compensation in accordance with these rules.

            (b)       The claimant must fully and promptly comply with any request by the United Nations in connection with a claim, or the recovery of payments from third parties pursuant to section IV of the present rules.

            (c)       In accordance with article 3.8 below, the claimant must inform the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims of any compensation under governmental, institutional, industrial or other workers’ compensation schemes or insurance for which the claimant may be eligible in connection with the death, injury or illness underlying a claim.

            (d)       The claimant must inform the Secretary of the Board of any changes relevant to a claim, including any changes in medical condition.

            (e)       The claimant shall provide, as requested, periodic attestation of continued eligibility to receive periodic compensation under the present rules.

                         Article 1.9

                         Fraud, misrepresentation and omission of material fact

            (a)       If a claimant makes a submission or a claim that is fraudulent, contains a material misrepresentation or omits a material fact, all claims related to the incident by that claimant shall be denied, all compensation or benefits payable to the claimant in relation to the claim shall be terminated and all payments made in relation to the claim shall be subject to recovery.

            (b)       When made by staff members, such claims may constitute misconduct under chapter X of the Staff Rules, and may result in disciplinary measures.

                         Section II

                         Requirements and conditions for coverage

                         Article 2.1

                         Procedural requirement for the filing of a claim

                         Notice

            (a)       As soon as practicable after the incident, a claimant should submit to the relevant human resources or executive or administrative officer in writing the following information:

            (i)        The staff member’s and claimant’s name, addresses and staff identification number;

            (ii)       The date of death or of the onset or diagnosis of an injury or illness;

            (iii)      A description of the incident, including its date, time and location.

                         Claim

            (b)       Within one year of the relevant date, as established below in article 2.1 (c), a claimant shall submit a signed Advisory Board on Compensation Claims claim form, together with the following information, as applicable:

            (i)        For claims involving injury or illness: a. a description of the injury or illness; b. a description of the relation of the injury or illness to the incident; c. a diagnosis; and d. a prognosis. Such information must be provided in writing by the staff member’s physician. The claimant must also submit the results of all relevant medical tests;

            (ii)       For claims for reimbursement of medical expenses: a. a completed Advisory Board on Compensation Claims medical expense form; b. all related medical bills; and c. proof of payment of such bills.

All required forms and supporting documentation may be submitted through a national mail service provider, other international courier service or electronically by email or by other designated tool and are deemed received only upon actual receipt.

                         Effective dates

            (c)       The time limitations for submission of the required forms and supporting documentation above will be determined on the basis of the following:

            (i)        Injury or illness: the date of the incident shall be either the event or the period over which an exposure occurred. It shall be the date of the incident for cases where symptoms are apparent immediately or the date on which the staff member becomes aware, or reasonably should have been aware, of such injury or illness, whichever is earlier;

            (ii)       Death: the date of death shall be established by a duly issued certificate of death.

            (d)       A determination on whether the claimant has complied with the time limitations for the filing of a claim, or other such procedural requirements, shall be made by the Board or the official with delegated authority to consider de minimis claims.

            (e)       The deadline for the filing of a claim, including all necessary supporting documentation, may be waived on an exceptional basis by the Board or the official with delegated authority to consider de minimis claims, in consultation with the Medical Services Division, in cases in which the claimant demonstrates that the delay was the result of incapacity. If a waiver is made, the claim must be submitted within the deadlines set out in article 2.1 (b) above, as applicable, the time frame for which will begin from the date of the cessation of the incapacity.

                         Article 2.2

                         Eligibility for coverage

            (a)       To be eligible to receive compensation under the present rules, the death, injury or illness underlying a claim must be service-incurred, as assessed in accordance with article 2.2 (d) below.

            (b)       The Advisory Board on Compensation Claims will assess whether the death, injury or illness is service-incurred and provide its recommendation on a claim to the Secretary-General. For de minimis claims, the official with delegated authority to consider de minimis claims will assess whether the death, injury or illness is service-incurred and take a decision on the claim on behalf of the Secretary-General.

            (c)       Such an assessment will be based on the claimant’s submissions, and, as appropriate, the recommendations of the Medical Services Division, technical advice from ex officio members of the Board and any other relevant documentary or other evidence.

                         Service-incurred death, injury or illness

            (d)       A death, injury or illness is service-incurred if it is directly attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the United Nations, in that it occurred while engaged in activities and at a place required for the performance of official duties.

            (i)        Incidents on the United Nations premises: if an incident occurs on United Nations premises, the resulting injury, illness or death may be service-incurred, unless at the time of the incident the staff member is engaged in an activity outside the scope of the staff member’s official duties;

            (ii)       Incidents off the United Nations premises: if an incident occurs away from the United Nations premises, the resulting injury, illness or death may be service-incurred if such death, injury or illness would not have occurred but for the performance of official duties, and if the incident occurred in any of the following circumstances:

                        a.        During duly authorized official travel, subject to article 2.3 (a) (iii) below;

                        b.        In the course of the staff member’s commute, as defined in article 1.3 above;

                        c.        While the staff member is otherwise in transit by direct route or at a location required for the performance of official duties.

            (iii)      An incident that occurs during the following types of official travel may be service-incurred only in cases in which the incident occurs during travel between the departure location and the destination location, as set out in the applicable travel authorization and itinerary:

                        a.        Home leave travel;

                        b.        Rest and recuperation travel;

                        c.        Family visit travel;

                        d.        Education grant travel in lieu of the child’s travel;

                        e.        Medical evacuation travel not related to a prior service-incurred injury or illness; or

                        f.         Medical evacuation upon request by the staff member to the staff member’s home country.

            (iv)      Special hazards: a death, injury or illness may be service-incurred if a staff member is on official travel or assigned to an area involving special hazards, as documented and addressed by authorized United Nations security and safety officials and the underlying incident occurred as a direct result of such hazards.

                         Aggravation of a pre-existing medical condition

            (e)       Claims based, in whole or in part, upon any aggravation of a pre-existing medical condition shall not be compensated unless such aggravation is service-incurred, and such compensation shall be solely for the proportion of the injury or illness deemed service-incurred.

                         Article 2.3

                         Excluded claims

            (a)       Claims shall not be compensable under the present rules if compensation is expressly excluded under conditions established by the Secretary-General, or where the death, injury or illness is the direct result of any of, but not limited to the following:

            (i)        Misconduct, recklessness or gross negligence by staff members, including, but not limited to, an act or omission with the intent to cause harm or death to themselves or others;

            (ii)       Disregard by the staff member of security instructions provided or made reasonably accessible to the staff member;

            (iii)      Failure by the staff member to use appropriate safety devices or medical prophylaxis provided by the United Nations, unless and only to the extent that the death, injury or illness would have happened even with the use of such device or prophylaxis;

            (iv)      Physical confrontation or other violence by the staff member, unless reasonably required by the circumstances or as part of the staff member’s official duties;

            (v)       Medical condition or other factors unrelated to the performance of official duties of the staff member, including, without limitation, pre-existing medical conditions, as defined in article 1.3.

                         Wear and tear to medical devices

            (b)       Ordinary wear and tear to medical devices, such as prosthetics and hearing aids, are not compensable, unless such device was granted in connection with a previously approved claim.

                         Section III

                         Compensation

            In the event of a service-incurred death, injury or illness, the claimant will be awarded compensation as provided below, without payment of interest thereon. All such compensation, including adjustments thereto, shall be payable solely in United States dollars.

                         Article 3.1

                         Injury or illness

            In the event of a service-incurred injury or illness, the following provisions shall apply:

                         Expenses

            (a)       The United Nations shall pay all medical expenses which are found by the Medical Services Division to be:

            (i)        Directly related to a service-incurred injury or illness;

            (ii)       Reasonably medically necessary for the treatment or services provided; and

            (iii)      At a reasonable cost for the treatment or services provided.

            (b)       Initial authorized absences in connection with a service-incurred injury or illness shall be charged to the staff member’s sick leave entitlement under staff rule 6.2 until such entitlement is exhausted or the staff member returns to active duty. Subject to meeting all requirements, article 3.9 may apply.

                         Article 3.2

                         Total disability

            In the event of total disability, upon the exhaustion of the sick leave entitlements pursuant to article 3.1 (b) above and upon the cessation of salary and allowances payable under the applicable Staff Regulations and Rules, the staff member shall receive annual compensation equivalent to 66.66 per cent of the last pensionable remuneration or, if the staff member has a dependent child, 75 per cent of the last pensionable remuneration. Such compensation shall be payable at periodic intervals for the duration of the disability and in addition to compensation payable under article 3.1 (a), as applicable.

                         Article 3.3

                         Death

            In the event of the service-incurred death of a staff member, the following provisions shall apply:

                         Funeral costs

            (a)       The United Nations shall pay a reasonable amount for the preparation of the remains and for funeral expenses, but no more than three times the monthly G-2, step I, pensionable remuneration applicable at the time of death for the country where the funeral takes place, or, where there is no pensionable remuneration scale for the country where the funeral takes place, the pensionable remuneration scale for Headquarters in New York.

            (b)       The United Nations shall pay medical expenses incurred prior to the date and time of a death which is found by the Medical Services Division to be:

            (ii)      Reasonably medically necessary for the treatment or services provided; and

            (iii)     At a reasonable cost for the treatment or services provided.

                         Travel and repatriation costs

            (c)       Expenses for the travel of an eligible family member to attend the funeral or for an eligible family member or other designated individual to accompany the remains of a deceased staff member as well as the costs for the repatriation of the remains shall be borne under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Article 3.4

                         Survivor dependants

                         Maximum compensation

            (a)       In the event of a service-incurred death of a staff member, the United Nations shall pay the compensation provided below to the staff member’s spouse or other eligible dependant(s), provided that the total annual compensation payable shall not exceed 75 per cent of the last pensionable remuneration of the deceased staff member.

                         Spouse

            (b)       A spouse shall receive annual compensation payments, payable at periodic intervals, equal to 50 per cent of the deceased staff member’s last pensionable remuneration. In the event of multiple spouses, such compensation shall be divided equally among the spouses. Upon the death of a spouse, the spouse’s share shall be divided among any remaining spouses.

                         Dependent child

            (c)       (i)        Each dependent child shall receive annual compensation, payable at periodic intervals in accordance with article 3.5 below, equal to 12.5 per cent of the deceased staff member’s last pensionable remuneration. If there are two or more dependent children, the compensation payable shall not exceed the maximum set out in article 3.4 (a) and shall be divided equally among such dependent children.

            (ii)       If there is no surviving spouse, then in lieu of the compensation provided under article 3.4 (c) (i), a dependent child shall receive annual compensation, payable at periodic intervals and in accordance with article 3.5, equivalent to the amount provided under article 3.4 (b) for one dependent child in addition to an annual compensation, payable at periodic intervals and in accordance with article 3.5, equal to the amount provided under article 3.4 (c) (i) for all additional dependent children. Such compensation shall be divided equally among such dependent children.

                         Secondary dependants

            (d)       If there is neither a spouse nor a dependent child and there is a secondary dependant, the following compensation shall be paid:

            (i)        To a dependent parent, annual compensation, payable at periodic intervals, equivalent to 50 per cent of the staff member’s last pensionable remuneration;

            (ii)       To a dependent sibling, annual compensation, payable at periodic intervals and in accordance with article 3.5 below, equal to 12.5 per cent of the staff member’s last pensionable remuneration.

                         Article 3.5

                         Payments to minors

            Payment of any compensation under the present rules to a minor shall be made to the minor’s parent or legal guardian. All such compensation must be used in its entirety for the sole benefit of the minor.

                         Article 3.6

                         Permanent disfigurement or loss of function

            (a)       In the case of a service-incurred injury or illness resulting in permanent disfigurement or loss of function, a lump sum shall be paid to the staff member in the amount obtained by multiplying three times the staff member’s pensionable remuneration at the time of the incident by the percentage of the degree of loss of function attributable to the service-incurred injury or illness pursuant to guidelines approved by the Medical Services Division for such a determination.

            (b)       Regardless of duty station, the staff member’s pensionable remuneration utilized in the immediately preceding calculation may not exceed the pensionable remuneration of a P-4, step VI, and may not be less than the pensionable remuneration of a G-2, step I, at Headquarters in New York applicable at the time of the incident:

            (i)        In the event that the staff member’s pensionable remuneration exceeds the pensionable remuneration of a P-4, step VI, the pensionable remuneration utilized in the immediately preceding calculation shall be that of a P-4, step VI;

            (ii)       In the event that the staff member’s pensionable remuneration is less than the pensionable remuneration of a G-2, step I, at Headquarters in New York, the pensionable remuneration utilized in the immediately preceding calculation shall be that of a G-2, step I, at Headquarters in New York.

                         Article 3.7

                         Relation to benefits under the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund

            Compensation awarded pursuant to the provisions set out below is intended to supplement the benefits under the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund in accordance with the following provisions:

            (a)       Any compensation otherwise payable under articles 3.2 or 3.4 above shall be reduced by the amount of the claimant’s disability benefit or a survivor’s benefit under the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. Deductions made under the present rules shall in no case have the effect of reducing the compensation otherwise payable to less than 10 per cent thereof, provided in all cases that the total annual amount payable both under the present rules and under the Regulations of the Fund shall in no event exceed 75 per cent of the staff member’s last pensionable remuneration.

            (b)       The sum of (i) benefits under the Fund and (ii) compensation payable under articles 3.2 and 3.4 above, after being adjusted under the present rules, shall in no event exceed 75 per cent of the staff member’s last pensionable remuneration.

            (c)       When benefits under the Fund are adjusted for variations in cost of living, compensation payable under articles 3.2 and 3.4 above shall be correspondingly adjusted.

                         Article 3.8

                         Relation to non-United Nations compensation

            (a)       In determining the amount of compensation payable under the present rules, the amount of any compensation or benefits under governmental, institutional, industrial or other workers’ compensation schemes, but not personal insurance, for which claimants qualify shall be deducted from any amounts payable hereunder.

            (b)       The claimant shall not be entitled to compensation or receive reimbursement under the present rules for medical expenses related to a service-incurred death, injury or illness if such expenses:

            (i)        Have already been compensated or are compensable under such governmental, institutional, industrial or other workers’ compensation schemes; or

            (ii)      Have been reimbursed by health or medical insurance.

            (c)       The claimant shall inform the Advisory Board on Compensation Claims without delay of any compensation under governmental, institutional, industrial or other workers’ compensation schemes or insurance for which the claimant may be eligible in connection with the death, injury or illness underlying a claim.

                         Article 3.9

                         Relation to other benefits under the Staff Rules

            (a)       Once a staff member’s sick leave entitlement has been exhausted pursuant to article 3.1 (b), and if such staff member has not separated from the United Nations, the staff member may be placed on special leave pursuant to staff rule 5.5.

                         Sick leave credit

            (b)       Sick leave credit, which is a grant of some or all of the sick leave entitlement which has been used for a service-incurred injury or illness, may be granted in the following cases:

            (i)        To maintain the full pay status of a staff member when sick leave is approved by the Medical Services Division for an injury or illness which is not service-incurred and when the claimant has insufficient sick leave for such non‑service-incurred injury or illness due to a prior use of sick leave for a separate injury or illness, which was recognized under the present rules as service-incurred. Such a grant is limited to the maximum extent of the prior sick leave used for the separate service-incurred injury or illness. No credit will be granted for any sick leave already revived under the time frames of staff rule 6.2 (c);

            (ii)       To maintain the full pay status of a staff member being considered for a disability benefit pursuant to article 33 (a) of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, who has exhausted the sick leave entitlement. A determination as to whether a claimant should be considered for such a benefit shall be made in consultation with the Medical Services Division pursuant to the established procedures of the United Nations and the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. Such sick leave credit may be granted solely to maintain full pay status until the date of termination of the staff member’s appointment or other separation from service pursuant to article 33 (a) of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, unless other arrangements apply during that period under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

                         Home travel

            (c)       A staff member who is unable to work for a period of at least six months owing to a service-incurred injury or illness, and for whom the Medical Services Division has so certified, may request consideration for a special travel allowance for travel of the staff member and eligible dependants to the place of entitlement, pursuant to chapter VII (Travel and relocation expenses) of the Staff Rules, and for their return travel when the staff member returns to duty. If such travel is commenced or terminated within 12 months of the staff member’s eligibility for home leave entitlement pursuant to staff rule 5.4 and chapter VII of the Staff Rules, such special travel allowance shall be deemed to be in lieu of the staff member’s home leave entitlement. If the staff member does not return to duty, such special travel allowance shall be deemed to be in lieu of travel on separation pursuant to chapter VII of the Staff Rules.

                         Section IV

                         Recoveries

                         Article 4.1

                         Claims against third parties

            (a)       All persons who submit a request for compensation for a service-incurred death, injury or illness under the present rules must notify the Secretary-General in writing at the earliest possible time of any claims, demands or rights that they have pursued, that they are pursuing or that they intend in the future to pursue against any third party or parties in connection with such service-incurred death, injury or illness.

                         Assignment of rights

            (b)       If, in the opinion of the Secretary-General, a claimant has a claim, demand, or right against a third party or parties, including a third party insurance carrier, for damages or other payment(s) in connection with a service-incurred death, injury or illness, the Secretary-General may, as a condition for granting any compensation to the claimant, require the claimant to assign such claim, demand or right to the United Nations so that the United Nations may pursue or enforce the claim, demand or right in the place of the claimant.

                         Assistance in pursuing or enforcing claims, demands or rights

            (c)       Where the United Nations has decided to pursue a claim, demand or right against a third party or parties pursuant to subparagraph (b) above, the claimant shall provide to the United Nations all assistance and cooperation that is necessary for pursuing or enforcing the claim, demand or right, including participating in any suit or proceedings.

                         Settlement

            (d)       The United Nations is entitled to settle any claim, demand or right against a third party or parties pursuant to subparagraph (b) above on such terms and conditions as it determines to be reasonable. A claimant, who has assigned a claim, demand or right under subparagraph (b), shall provide the United Nations all assistance as may be required to reach a settlement, including, but not limited to, participating in any settlement negotiations and executing all settlement-related documents. The claimant shall not, under any circumstances, settle any claim, demand or action with any third party or parties without the express written consent of the United Nations.

                         Proceeds

            (e)       Where compensation or proceeds have been received from a third party or parties as a result of a suit, proceedings or a settlement reached pursuant to subparagraphs (b) to (d) above, such compensation or proceeds shall be applied:

            (i)        First, to pay in full the costs of the suit, proceedings or settlement, including reasonable attorney fees;

            (ii)      Second, to reimburse the United Nations for any compensation provided to the claimant pursuant to these rules; and

            (iii)     Third, to pay the remaining amounts to the claimant.

                         Future claims

            (f)        Any amount of compensation that a claimant may be entitled to receive in the future pursuant to the present rules shall be first used to offset any monies received by the claimant under subparagraph (e) (iii) above.

                         Article 4.2

                         Recovery of overpayments

            (a)       If the United Nations has paid a claimant in excess of any compensation payable under the present rules, the United Nations will notify the claimant of the amount of overpayment and request reimbursement.

            (b)       If immediate reimbursement in full is not feasible, any future periodic payments of compensation payable to the claimant under the present rules shall be reduced by 20 per cent until the overpayment has been reimbursed in full. If immediate reimbursement in full of any lump-sum payment made under the present rules is not feasible, the Secretary-General will seek recovery by means including, but not limited to, the reduction of any future lump sum payments of compensation payable to the claimant under the present rules by the entire amount of the overpayment.

                         Section V

                         Reconsideration, review and appeal

                         Article 5.1

                         Reconsideration of medical determinations

            Claimants wishing to contest a decision taken on a claim under the present rules, when that decision is based upon a medical determination by the Medical Services Division or the United Nations Medical Director, shall submit a request for reconsideration of the medical determination under conditions, and by a technical body, established by the Secretary-General.

                         Article 5.2

                         Review and appeal of administrative decisions

            Claimants wishing to contest a decision taken on a claim under the present rules, to the extent that the decision was based on considerations other than a medical determination, shall submit to the Secretary-General a written request for management evaluation in accordance with staff rule 11.2.

                         Article 5.3

                         Reopening of claims

            Upon a written request by a claimant, or at the initiative of the Secretary-General, a claim made under the present rules may be reopened when one or more of the following criteria are met:

            (a)       The discovery of new material evidence, if such new material evidence may materially affect:

            (i)       A determination as to whether a death, injury or illness was service-incurred; or

            (ii)      A relevant medical determination;

            (b)       A worsening or improvement in the condition of the staff member, where such worsening or improvement is directly related to the service-incurred injury or illness, and which may entitle the staff member to additional compensation, or warrant the reduction or elimination of compensation;

            (c)       A material mistake was made by the United Nations in the processing of a claim that had an impact on its disposition.

            When a claim is reopened subject to the provisions above, any such claim shall be considered in accordance with the present rules. The Secretary-General and the claimant shall be bound by determinations previously made, unless new material evidence or material mistake undermines or otherwise calls into question in substantial part those determinations.

                         Section VI

                         Article 6.1

            (a)       For claims filed for incidents occurring after the entry into force of the present revised rules, such revised rules will be applied.

            (b)       For claims filed for incidents that occurred prior to the entry into force of the present revised rules, the previously applicable rules will be applied, except that annual compensation for widows or widowers under the former article 10.2 will continue to be payable provided that the widow or widower has not remarried prior to the entry into force of the present revised rules.

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         [1] Staff rules 1.7, 3.17, 4.1, 4.3, 4.6, 4.11, 4.12, 4.14, 6.4–6.6, 7.4, 8.2, 9.1, 9.4, 12.2 and 13.5 and appendices A and C.

Increase in Global and Domestic Measles Cases and Outbreaks: Ensure Children in the United States and Those Traveling Internationally 6 Months and Older are Current on MMR Vaccination

Health Alert Network logo.

Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network March 18, 2024, 12:30 PM ET CDCHAN-00504

Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and U.S. measles cases and to provide guidance on measles prevention for all international travelers aged ≥6 months and all children aged ≥12 months who do not plan to travel internationally. Measles (rubeola) is highly contagious; one person infected with measles can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals with whom they come in close contact. From January 1 to March 14, 2024, CDC has been notified of 58 confirmed U.S. cases of measles across 17 jurisdictions, including seven outbreaks in seven jurisdictions compared to 58 total cases and four outbreaks reported the entire year in 2023. Among the 58 cases reported in 2024, 54 (93%) were linked to international travel. Most cases reported in 2024 have been among children aged 12 months and older who had not received measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Many countries, including travel destinations such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania, and the United Kingdom, are experiencing measles outbreaks. To prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of community transmission from importation, all U.S. residents traveling internationally, regardless of destination, should be current on their MMR vaccinations. Healthcare providers should ensure children are current on routine immunizations, including MMR. Given currently high population immunity against measles in most U.S. communities, the risk of widescale spread is low. However, pockets of low coverage leave some communities at higher risk for outbreaks.

Background Measles is a highly contagious viral illness and can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and death, especially in unvaccinated persons. Measles typically begins with a prodrome of fever, cough, coryza (runny nose), and conjunctivitis (pink eye), lasting 2 to 4 days before rash onset. The incubation period for measles from exposure to fever is usually about 10 days (range 7 to 12 days), while rash onset is typically visible around 14 days (range 7 to 21 days) after initial exposure. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, and can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area. Individuals infected with measles are contagious from 4 days before the rash starts through 4 days afterward.

Declines in measles vaccination rates globally have increased the risk of measles outbreaks worldwide, including in the United States. Measles cases continue to be brought into the United States by travelers who are infected while in other countries. As a result, domestic measles outbreaks have been reported in most years, even following the declaration of U.S. measles elimination in 2000. Most importations come from unvaccinated U.S. residents.

Measles is almost entirely preventable through vaccination. MMR vaccines are safe and highly effective, with two doses being 97% effective against measles (one dose is 93% effective). When more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated (coverage >95%) most people are protected through community immunity (herd immunity). However, vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners has decreased from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 93.1% in the 2022–2023 school year, leaving approximately 250,000 kindergartners susceptible to measles each year over the last three years. Thirty-six states plus the District of Columbia (DC) had less than 95% MMR coverage among kindergartners during the 2022–2023 school year. Of states with less than 95% MMR coverage, ten reported more than 5% of kindergartners had medical and nonmedical exemptions, highlighting the importance of targeted efforts at increasing vaccine confidence and access.

Recommendations for Healthcare Providers

  • Schools, early childhood education providers, and healthcare providers should work to ensure students are current with MMR vaccine .
  • Children who are not traveling internationally should receive their first dose of MMR at age 12 to 15 months and their second dose at 4 to 6 years.
  • Infants aged 6 through 11 months should receive one dose of MMR vaccine before departure. Infants who receive a dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should receive two more doses of MMR vaccine, the first of which should be administered when the child is age 12 through 15 months and the second at least 28 days later.
  • Children aged 12 months or older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
  • Teenagers and adults without evidence of measles immunity should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
  • At least one of the following is considered evidence of measles immunity for international travelers: 1) birth before 1957, 2) documented administration of two doses of live measles virus vaccine (MMR, MMRV, or other measles-containing vaccine), or 3) laboratory (serologic) proof of immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease.
  • Isolate: Do not allow patients with suspected measles to remain in the waiting room or other common areas of a healthcare facility; isolate patients with suspected measles immediately, ideally in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) if available, or in a private room with a closed door until an AIIR is available. Healthcare providers should be adequately protected against measles and should adhere to standard and airborne precautions when evaluating suspect cases, regardless of their vaccination status. Healthcare providers without evidence of immunity should be excluded from work from day 5 after the first exposure until day 21 following their last exposure. Offer testing outside of facilities to avoid transmission in healthcare settings. Call ahead to ensure immediate isolation for patients referred to hospitals for a higher level of care.
  • Notify: Immediately notify state, tribal, local, or territorial health departments ( 24-hour Epi On Call contact list ) about any suspected case of measles to ensure rapid testing and investigation. States report measles cases to CDC.
  • Test: Follow CDC’s testing recommendations and collect either a nasopharyngeal swab, throat swab, and/or urine for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a blood specimen for serology from all patients with clinical features compatible with measles. RT-PCR is available at many state public health laboratories, through the APHL Vaccine Preventable Disease Reference Centers, and at CDC. Given potential shortages in IgM test kits, providers should be vigilant in contacting their state or local health department for guidance on testing.
  • Manage: In coordination with local or state health departments, provide appropriate measles post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as soon as possible after exposure to close contacts without evidence of immunity, either with MMR (within 72 hours) or immunoglobulin (within 6 days). The choice of PEP is based on elapsed time from exposure or medical contraindications to vaccination.

Recommendations for Health Departments

Measles is an immediately notifiable disease. State, tribal, local, and territorial health departments have the lead in disease investigations and should report measles cases and outbreaks within 24 hours through the state health department to CDC ( [email protected] ) and through NNDSS .

  • Establish measles case reporting from healthcare facilities, providers, and laboratories to public health authorities.
  • If measles is identified, conduct active surveillance for additional (secondary) cases and facilitate transportation of specimens immediately to confirm diagnosis.
  • Record and report details about cases of measles, including adherence to recommended precautions and facility location(s) of index and secondary cases.
  • Enhance outreach and communications to under-vaccinated communities through trusted messengers.

Recommendations for Parents and International Travelers

  • Even if not traveling, ensure that children receive all recommended doses of MMR vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine provide better protection (97%) against measles than one dose (93%). Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting measles, mumps, or rubella.
  • Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting infected when they travel internationally. Before international travel, check your destination and CDC’s Global Measles Travel Health Notice for more travel health advice, including where measles outbreaks have been reported.
  • Parents traveling internationally with children should consult with their child’s healthcare provider to ensure that they are current with their MMR vaccinations at least 2 weeks before travel. Infants aged 6 to 11 months should have one documented dose and children aged 12 months and older should have two documented doses of MMR vaccine before international travel. Depending on where you are going and what activities you plan, other vaccines may be recommended too.
  • After international travel, watch for signs and symptoms of measles for 3 weeks after returning to the United States. If you or your child gets sick with a rash and a high fever, call your healthcare provider. Tell them you traveled to another country and whether you or your child have received MMR vaccine.

For More Information

  • Measles Vaccines for Children | CDC
  • Plan for Travel – Measles | CDC
  • Global Measles Situation | CDC
  • Measles: Information for Public Health Professionals | CDC
  • CDC Measles Toolkit for Health Departments
  • Partnering for Vaccine Equity | CDC
  • Vaccine Preventable Diseases | APHL
  • Measles One-Pager for Healthcare Providers | Project Firstline and AAP
  • Immunization Schedules | CDC
  • Safety Information for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccines | CDC
  • For Healthcare Professionals – Diagnosing and Treating Measles | CDC
  • Interim Measles Infection Prevention Recommendations in Healthcare Settings | CDC
  • Measles – Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Manual | CDC
  • Rubeola / Measles | CDC Yellow Book 2024
  • Measles Lab Tools | CDC
  • Measles Serology | CDC
  • Measles Specimen Collection, Storage, and Shipment | CDC
  • Test Directory | Submitting Specimens to CDC | Infectious Diseases Laboratories | CDC
  • Webinar Thursday, August 17, 2023 – We Must Maintain Measles Elimination in the United States: Measles Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Prevention (cdc.gov) (Free CE)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people’s health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national and international organizations.

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COMMENTS

  1. Official travel

    Security and evacuation related allowances. Official Travel. Miscellaneous Travel expenses. Authorization to Travel. Daily subsistence allowance. Dates, mode, route and standard of travel. Excess luggage. Illness or injury during Travel on official business. Loss of entitlement to unaccompanied shipment or relocation shipment.

  2. Travel and shipment

    Personal status for purposes of United Nations entitlements . SGB.png. ST/SGB/2004/13/Rev.1. Personal status for purposes of United Nations entitlements. Privately owned automobiles . IC.png. ... Official travel of staff members . ST/SGB/2018/1. Staff Rules, 7.1. ST/AI/2013/3/Amend.4. Official travel. ST/IC/2019/16. Official travel. Privately ...

  3. Official travel of staff members

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  4. Changes to the UN air travel policy

    Monday, August 19, 2013. Staff Rules. A new administrative instruction, ST/AI/2013/3, introduces a number changes to the UN travel policy. This administrative instruction, issued on 12 August 2013, follows the General Assembly's decision ( resolution 67/254 A) on the standard of accommodation for air travel.

  5. | Policy Portal

    Forms. DM.10 (Report on Standards of Accommodation for Air Travel) F.56-E (Reimbursement Voucher for Official Travel of Representatives of Member-States) P.86/Travel (Delegation of Authority for UN Travel Documents) PT.164 (Official Travel of UN Staff Members in the United States) PT.78-E (Itemized Valued Inventory of Household Goods & Personal ...

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  7. Authorization to Travel

    Read more about Staff Regulations and Staff Rules, including provisional Staff Rules, of the United Nations; Français; Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations (superseded by ST/SGB/2018/1/Rev.2) ... P.86/Travel (Delegation of Authority for UN Travel Documents) Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 24 January 2020 - 10:44am

  8. PDF Staff Regulations and Staff Rules, including provisional Staff Rules

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  9. UN Conditions of Service-Travel Allowance

    For New York, the amounts to be reimbursed for each such trip are $63 in respect of the staff member and $21 for each family member authorized to travel at United Nations expense. For all other ...

  10. COVID-19 Response

    For UN staff members working: at UN Headquarters, ... Travel . 2021-12-15: Covid-19 Vaccination requirements for Duty Travel; 2020-09-04: Information for UN Personnel Traveling to New York;

  11. Seek Advice on Visas and Other Administrative Matters

    Visas and Laissez-Passers for staff members on official travel. At UNHQ, the Passport and Visa Unit assists all UN staff with obtaining visas for entry to other countries for official business trips or training trips paid for by the Organization. More information can be found here: Passport and Visa Unit (link accessible on the UN network)

  12. UN Conditions of Service-Travel Allowance

    For all other duty stations, the amounts to be reimbursed for each trip are $38 in respect of the staff member and $13 for each family member authorized to travel at United Nations expense. When official United Nations or government vehicle is made available for the trip, the amounts to be reimbursed shall be set at $11 in respect of the staff ...

  13. PDF Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations

    1.9 In the present edition, each article of the Staff Regulations of the United Nations precedes each chapter of the related Staff Rules. Section 2 Final provisions 2.1 In accordance with staff regulations 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4: (a) the revised Staff Regulations and Rules as described above in sections 1.1 and 1.2 are

  14. PDF Table of Contents

    a Travel Administrator has the rights to create Travel Requests on staff or non-staff member's behalf). Please contact your administrative focal point if you are unsure who is performing this role in ... If you are combining any other UN Paid Travel, you will have to raise a second Travel Request and crossrefrence it to this Travel Request ...

  15. UN Conditions of Service-Home Leave & Family Visit

    Terminal expenses for the staff member and family member authorized to travel at United Nations expense. For designated duty stations, the staff member may opt for lump-sum payment for his or her ...

  16. Welcome to UNDSS

    Register. This site provides resources such as security clearance requests, travel notification processing and travel advisories for staff members of United Nations departments, agencies, funds and programmes. Please note that access to this site is restricted to UN personnel only. Unauthorized access to this United Nations Computer System is ...

  17. Travel of other personnel (non-staff)

    Travel of other personnel (non-staff) Staff Regulations and Staff Rules, including provisional Staff Rules, of the United Nations Submitted by SMEDINA3 on 08 February 2023 - 12:27pm

  18. Airline discounts

    Announcing Airline Discounts for UN Staff Private Travel. Dear colleagues, The Staff Union is thrilled to announce a set of special offers provided by Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines and United to the United Nations staff and our dependents for our leisure (non-official) travel.. Please see the flyer attached for the promo codes you can use for 10% and 15% discounts on the tickets you purchase ...

  19. Official travel

    Travel advance. Required travel on official business. Travel documents. Travel expenses. Travel for medical reasons. Travel in cases of death or health related emergencies. Travel of spouse in lieu of family visit travel. Taxi fare. Miscellaneous travel expenses.

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    UN staff working with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have been subjected to a systematic campaign of obstruction and harassment by the Israeli military and authorities since the beginning ...

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  23. Privately owned vehicle (POV) mileage reimbursement rates

    Per diem rates look-up Allowances for lodging, meal and incidental costs while on official government travel. Mileage reimbursement rates Reimbursement rates for the use of your own vehicle while on official government travel.

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    Story by Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes Staff • 4d. Topline. A hiker came across a large metal monolith near a small Welsh town Tuesday, ...

  28. Staff Rules

    Article 101. 1. The staff shall be appointed by the Secretary-General under regulations established by the General Assembly. 2. Appropriate staffs shall be permanently assigned to the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and, as required, to other organs of the United Nations.

  29. Europe's travel strikes: Flight and train disruption you can ...

    The walkout, which will last from 10am until 6pm, coincides with a strike by Air Dolomiti cabin staff that is likely to disrupt flights between Italy and Germany. Train strikes in Italy in March

  30. Health Alert Network (HAN)

    Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and U.S. measles cases and to provide guidance on measles prevention for all international travelers aged ≥6 months and all children aged ≥12 months who do not plan to travel internationally.