International contracted staff members are appointed by the OSCE on a direct contractual basis, hold an international post in the Secretariat or at an Institution. Their salary is established with reference to the applicable net salary scales of the United Nations common system and paid corresponding to the personal grade and step. The salaries paid to international contracted staff members are subject to post adjustment multiplier (and USD/EUR exchange rate variation) in accordance with the International Civil Service Commission’s decision.

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.

Once every two years of qualifying service, international fixed-term staff members are entitled to home leave travel. For purposes of travel and entitlements, 'home' is the place with which a staff member has the closest residential ties in his/her country of nationality. Travel cost for staff, their spouse and recognized dependent children are paid by the OSCE.

Social Security

Under the OSCE social security scheme, the following benefits are made available to international 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 equivalent to 6 per cent of net remuneration (net base salary and post adjustment). The regular child allowance applies in respect of the other dependent children.

Eligible staff are paid spouse allowance equivalent to 6 per cent of net remuneration (net base salary and post adjustment) 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.

Appointment travel

The OSCE shall pay travel expenses (flight ticket and limited accompanied excess baggage) upon initial appointment for staff and for their spouse and dependent children. The travel expenses shall be paid either from the physical place of residence immediately preceding the appointment or from the place of home leave.

Installation grant

An installation grant is payable to new international staff for the purpose of assisting with expenses incurred for the relocation to a duty station at the beginning of their employment. The installation grant is set as the equivalent of the daily subsistence allowance applicable to the duty station and fifty per cent of that amount for each eligible dependent, and is paid for a period of thirty days after arrival at the duty station.

Removal of household goods

Expenses for removal of household goods shall be covered by the OSCE upon initial appointment, change of duty station and separation of international fixed-term contracted staff members.

Rental subsidy

The rental subsidy shall be payable to international fixed-term contracted staff members who are not nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station and who rent their dwelling, for a maximum period of seven years

Education grant

The education grant allowance is established in line with the global sliding scale in accordance with the UN Common System. The grant is payable to eligible international fixed-term contracted staff members, from the scholastic year following the child’s 5th birthday (or in which the child completes their 5th year provided this occurs in the 1st term), up to and including the day on which a child ceases full-time attendance at an educational institution, or completes four years of post-secondary studies or attains a first post-secondary degree, whichever comes first. The grant will not be paid beyond the educational year in which a child reaches the age of 25.

Repatriation grant

The OSCE pays a repatriation grant to international fixed-term contracted staff members upon separation from service. The repatriation grant shall be payable to international fixed-term contracted staff members who have completed five years of continuous service outside the country of his/her place of home leave at the Professional level below P-5, three years at P-5, and two years at the Director level.

Separation travel

The OSCE shall pay travel expenses upon separation for staff and for their spouse and dependent children. For the international contracted officials separating the organization, the travel expenses shall be paid from their duty station to their place of home leave or to any other place as authorized by the Secretary General provided that the costs are not higher than those which would have been incurred for travel from duty station to place of home leave.