III.3.13 Language scheme

 

• General principles
• Discontinuation of accelerated increments
• Language allowance for general service staff

 General Principles

10    There are six (6) official languages in the Organization, namely: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Every staff member, by virtue of his/her appointment, is required to work in either English or French, which are the working languages of the Organization.

20    It has been the long-standing policy of the Organization to encourage staff to become proficient in two (2) or more of the official languages in order to achieve and maintain linguistic balance in the Organization. To this end, staff members are encouraged to make full use of the language training facilities available to them, including the periodic language examinations offered to certify their level of proficiency.  

Discontinuation of accelerated increments

30    Accelerated increments granted under the previous language incentive scheme are discontinued effective 1 January 2017.  Staff members in the professional and higher categories, including those appointed under Staff Rule 480 through an inter-organization transfer will cease to receive such accelerated increments as of this date.  As a transitional measure, the final accelerated increment due to a staff member after 1 January 2017 will be granted in accordance with its due date.

40    Staff members who are promoted from the General Service category to the Professional category who are in receipt of a language allowance under Staff Rule 1310.8 will automatically cease to receive any allowance related to language proficiency.

Language allowance for general service staff

50    Under the provisions of Staff Rule 1310.8, general service staff may qualify for a language allowance for proficiency in a second or third (but not a fourth) approved language.

60    Staff members whose mother tongue is one of the approved languages at the official station concerned must show that they are proficient in one (or two) of the other approved languages. Those staff members whose mother tongue is not one of the approved languages, but who have been appointed on the basis of their proficiency in one of them, must show that they are proficient in a second (or third) one.

70    The approved languages for the purpose of language allowances are as follows:  

80    The amount of the allowance for the third language is fifty percent (50%) of the rate payable for the second language. The allowance is treated as pensionable remuneration and it is not subject to staff assessment.

90    The amount of the allowance will be specified in the salary scales and it is paid together with salary in the local currency of the duty station.

100    Language allowance is taken into account in determining the following, where applicable: pensionable remuneration, contributions to and benefits payable by the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, e.g. retirement benefit, disability benefit, surviving dependant's benefits; compensation for service-incurred illness, injury or death; overtime compensation; insurance premiums; separation payments, e.g. commutation of annual leave, death benefit, termination indemnity, etc.; grade and step on promotion from the general service to the professional category. Language allowance is not subject to staff assessment.

• Discontinuation of accelerated increments
• Language allowance for general service Staff

Discontinuation of accelerated increments

110    Accelerated increments granted under the previous language incentive scheme are discontinued effective 1 January 2017.  Temporary staff members in the professional and higher categories will cease to receive such accelerated increments as of this date. As a transitional measure, the final accelerated increment due to a staff member after 1 January 2017 will be granted in accordance with its due date.

Language allowance for general service Staff

120    Under the provisions of Staff Rule 1310.8, General Service staff on temporary appointments may qualify for a language allowance for proficiency in a second or third (but not a fourth) approved language, under the same terms and conditions as fixed-term staff.

130    Staff members whose mother tongue is one (1) of the approved languages at the official station concerned must show that they are proficient in one (1) (or two (2)) of the other approved languages. Those whose mother tongue is not one (1) of the approved languages, but who have been appointed on the basis of their proficiency in one (1) of them, must show that they are proficient in a second (or third) one.

140    The amount of the allowance for the third language is 50% of the rate payable for the second language. The allowance is treated as pensionable remuneration and it is not subject to staff assessment.

150    The approved languages for the purpose of language allowances are as follows:

160    The amount of the allowance will be specified in the salary scales and it is paid together with salary in the local currency of the duty station.