General Service staff members are appointed by the OSCE on a direct contractual basis, hold a local general service post in the Secretariat or at an Institution, and have their salary established with reference to the applicable net salary scales of the United Nations common system and paid corresponding to the personal grade and step. Period of employment in local general service posts is not included in the calculation of maximum period of service of OSCE officials.

Official Holidays and Leave

There are nine OSCE official holidays in each calendar year. In recognition of the diversity of the OSCE area, an additional day off is granted to observe a national, religious or cultural event.

The annual leave entitlement constitutes two-and-a-half working days per month. In addition, supplementary leave days may be granted in acknowledgement of some specific circumstances, such as sickness, marriage, birth of a child, death of a close relative, etc.

Social Security

Under the OSCE social security scheme, the following benefits are made available to General Service contracted fixed-term staff members:

•           Comprehensive health insurance for the staff member and eligible dependents;

•           Accidental Disability and Life insurance whilst on official duty;

•           Emergency medical evacuation insurance whilst on official duty travel to a field operation;

•           Provident Fund (in lieu of pension insurance).

Dependency allowances

The OSCE pays child allowance for each dependent child in accordance with the UN Common System. A child is considered dependent under the age of 18 years, or, if the child is in full-time attendance at an educational institution, under the age of 21.

Single parents who provide main and continuous support for their dependent children shall receive single parent allowance in respect of the first dependent child in duty stations where the local General Service salary scale provides for such an allowance. The regular child allowance applies in respect of the other dependent children.

Eligible staff are paid spouse allowance with respect to a dependent spouse if the spouse’s total yearly gross earnings do not exceed the lowest entry level of the United Nations General Service gross salary scales in the duty station where the staff member works.