ICSC : Human Resources Policies Division

1. What is the difference between the old scheme and the new arrangements for mobility? (click here)

*Old mobility scheme*	*New mobility arrangement*
1. Eligibility: five consecutive years of service in United Nations system and an assignment of one year or more	1. Same
2. At H duty stations, mobility is paid upon fourth assignment and only if staff member had at least two previous assignments at A to E duty stations	2. Same
3. At A to E duty stations, mobility is paid upon the second assignment	3. Same
4. Payments are a percentage of the P-4, step VI, of the base/floor salary scale at the dependency rate	4. Payments are flat amounts (click here)
5. Single staff receive 75 per cent of the dependency rate	5. Single staff would receive 75 per cent of the flat amount paid to staff with dependants
6. Payments linked to movement in the base/floor salary scale with annual adjustments	6. Payments reviewed every three years by reference to: (a) the average movement of net base salary plus post adjustment in the eight headquarters of the United Nations system; (b) the movement of the out-of-area index used for post adjustment, based on inflation factors in 21 countries; and (c) the movement of the base/floor salary scale. First review to be conducted in 2008
7. Payments are differentiated by grade groupings; P-1 to P-3; P-4 and P-5; and D-1 and above	7. Same
8. Payments for P-4 and P-5 are a percentage of the net base salary scale of P-4, step VI. P-1 to P-3 receive 13 per cent less and D-1 and above receive 13 per cent more	8. Payments would be as shown in the following table : (click here)
9. Because payments are linked to the salary scale, payments change when salary changes owing to promotion, within-grade-step increase or change in dependency status	9. Flat rate payments are set at the time of the assignment to the duty station and no changes in the amount are made for the duration of the entitlement, unless the Commission adjusts the amount of the entitlement
10. Payments made in monthly instalments	10. Same
11. Higher percentage payment made for A to E duty stations	11. Same
12. Payments increase as number of assignments increase	12. Same
13. Payments increase at the time of the third, fourth and fifth assignment. All subsequent assignments are paid at the same rate as the fifth assignment	13. For payment purposes, number of assignments are grouped as two to three assignments, four to six assignments and seven or more assignments. Payment is at the same rate for seven or more assignments
14. Payments cease after five consecutive years at one duty station	14. Same
15. Exceptionally, payments may continue for up to one year at a rate reduced by 10 per cent	15. No exceptions are permitted

2. What is the difference between the old scheme and the new arrangements for hardship? (click here)

*Old hardship scheme*	*New hardship arrangement*
1. Payments are linked to the base/floor salary scale with annual adjustments	1. Payments reviewed every three years by reference to: (a) the average movement of net base salary plus post adjustment in the eight headquarters of the United Nations system; (b) the movement of the out-of-area index used for post adjustment based on inflation factors in 21 countries; and (c) the movement of the base/floor salary scale. First review to be conducted in 2008
2. Payments are a percentage of the P-4, step VI of the base/floor salary scale at the dependency rate	2. Payments are flat amounts (click here)
3. Single staff receive 75 per cent of the dependency rate	3. Same
4. Payments are differentiated by grade groupings: P-1 to P-3; P-4 and P-5; and D-1 above	4. Same
5. Payments for P-4 and P-5 are a percentage of the net base salary scale of P-4, step VI. P-1 to P-3 receive 13 per cent less and D-l and above receive 13 per cent more	5. Payments are at a flat rate as shown in the following table : (click here)
6. Because payments are linked to the salary scale, payments change when salary changes owing to promotion, within-grade-step increase or change in dependency status	6. Flat rate payments are set at the time of the assignment to the duty station and no changes in the amount are made for the duration of the entitlement, unless the Commission adjusts the amount of the entitlement
7. Payments are made in monthly installments	7. Same
8. No payments are made for H and A duty stations	8. Same
9. Payments begin with first assignment to duty stations B, C, D or E	9. Same
10. Payments increase to recognize the degree of hardship increases when going from B to C to D to E duty stations	10. Same
11. Assignment to H, A and B duty stations carries a 24-month home leave entitlement	11. Same
12. Assignment to C, D and E duty stations carries a 12-month home leave entitlement	12. Same

3. What is the difference between the old scheme and the new arrangements for non-removal arrangements? (click here)

*Old non-removal scheme*	*New non-removal arrangement*
1. Eligibility: when a limited shipment of personal effects is made in lieu of shipment of full household	1. Same
2. Payments are linked to the base/floor salary scale with annual adjustments	2. Payments reviewed every three years by reference to: (a) the average movement of net base salary plus post adjustment in the eight headquarters of the United Nations system; (b) the movement of the out-of-area index used for post adjustment based on inflation factors in 21 countries; and (c) the movement of the base/floor salary scale. First review to be conducted in 2008
3. Payments are a percentage of the P-4, step VI of the base/floor salary scale at the dependency rate	3. Payments are flat amounts (click here)
4. Single staff receive 75 per cent of the dependency rate	4. Same
5. Payments are differentiated by grade groupings: P-1 to P-3; P-4 and P-5; and D-1 and above	5. Same
6. Payments for P-4 and P-5 are a percentage of the net base salary scale of P-4, step VI. P-1 to P-3 receive 13 per cent less, and D-l and above receive 13 per cent more	6. Payments are at a flat rate as shown in the following table : (click here)
7. Because payments are linked to the salary scale, payments change when salary changes owing to promotion, within-grade-step increase or change in dependency status, etc.	7. Flat rate payments are set at the time of the assignment to the duty station and no changes in the amount are made for the duration of the entitlement, unless the Commission adjusts the amount of the entitlement
8. Payments according to category of duty station with A to E receiving more than H duty stations	8. No distinction between duty stations. H through E receive the same
9. Payments made in monthly installments	9. Payment to be made in a lump sum at the beginning of the assignment. Payments shown in table 6 are annual amounts only. Entitlement could be up to five times the amount shown depending on length of assignment
10. Payments stop after five continuous years at same duty station	10. Same
11. Exceptionally, payments may be extended for up to seven years	11. No extension beyond five years permitted

4. What is the difference between the old scheme and the new arrangements for assignment grants? (click here)

*Old assignment grant*	*New assignment grant*
1. No changes were proposed for the assignment grant except in the timing of the payments. The current practice and the proposed change are shown below
2. For non-removal cases at duty stations A through E, a one-month lump sum^a is paid if the assignment is for one year but less than three years and two months’ lump sum if the assignment is expected to be of a duration of three years or more. If an assignment of less than three years’ duration is subsequently extended to three years or more, a second one‑month lump sum is payable at the beginning of the third year	2. When the assignment is expected to be of three or more years’ duration, two months’ lump sum would be paid at the time of assignment. If the staff member did not remain for at least three years, recovery of a one-month lump sum would be effected

^a A one-month lump sum is 30 days salary plus post adjustment.