CF/AI/2012-001

Danger pay

This instruction implements the decision of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC)to discontinue “hazard pay” and introduce “danger pay”, on the basis of revised criteria, effective 1 March 2012. It also implements decisions of the ICSC with regard to the amount and payment modalities of danger pay.

Section 1

General

Definition

1.1Danger pay has been defined by the ICSC as “a special allowance established for internationally and locally recruited staff who are required to work in locations where very dangerous conditions prevail and that comprise the following:

(a) Duty stations where United Nations staff, owing to the very fact of their association with, or employment by, an organization of the United Nations common system are clearly, persistently and directly targeted or where premises are clearly, persistently and directly targeted, thus presenting an imminent and constant threat to staff and activities;

(b) Duty stations where United Nations staff or premises are at high risk of becoming collateral damage in a war or active armed conflict;

(c) Non-protected environments where medical staff are specifically at risk of their life when deployed there to deal with public health emergencies as declared by the World Health Organization”.[1]

Approving authority

1.2Danger pay is approved by the chair of the ICSC, under delegated authority from the ICSC. The chair will base his/her decisions on recommendations by the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security with regard to the application of danger pay under the criteria set out in paragraphs 1.1 (a) and (b), and the Director-General of the World Health Organization with regard to the application of danger pay under the criteria set out in paragraph 1.1 (c).

Duration

1.3Danger pay is normally granted for periods of up to three consecutivemonths. The payment of danger pay is discontinued when dangerous conditions aredeemed to have abated.

Information

1.4Information on areas that are subject to the payment of danger pay is published every three months and available to UNICEF staff members through the e-HR Handbook.

Section 2

Eligibility

2.1Danger pay applies to all UNICEF staff members holding a temporary, fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, who are present in an area where danger pay is applicable.

2.2Danger pay also applies to United Nations Volunteer (UNV) specialists working for UNICEF, as per the conditions and rates established by UNV.

2.3Danger pay does not apply to consultantsand individual contractors, and any other individuals working for UNICEF other than mentioned in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2.

Section 3

Payment

Modalities

3.1For both internationally and locally recruited staff members, danger pay will be paid as a monthly sum.

3.2Danger pay will be paid for absences from the duty station for the purpose of rest and recuperation (R&R) and official duty travel, up to a maximum of seven days per month. Payment of danger pay ceases from the eighth day of such absences. Danger pay is not paid for any periods of absence from the duty station for the purpose of annual leave or any other type of leave or special leave.

3.3For staff members who spend thecomplete calendar month in the area where the allowance is applicable, the monthly sum is paid irrespective of the number of days in the month. When staff membersare required to spend only some days of a calendar month in the designated duty station, the amount of danger pay is paid for the numberof days spent at the duty station, prorated on the basis of 365 days per year, i.e. the monthly amount is annualized and divided by 365 days to obtain the daily rate.

3.4Danger pay is processed and paid by the office where the staff member is serving, or, in the case of a staff member traveling to an area where the allowance is applicable, by the office settling the respective travel claim.

Amounts

3.5For internationally recruited staff members, the amountof danger pay isUSD1,600 per month. This amount is subject to review by the ICSC every three years.

3.6For locallyrecruited staff members, the amount of danger pay is calculated at the rate of 25 per cent of the net midpoint of the local General Service salary scale applicable tothe duty station, in the currency of that scale. Adjustments to the amounts will be made as and when salary scales are revised.

3.7For locallyrecruited staff members on travel status to an area where danger pay is applicable:

(a)outside the country of their duty station, danger pay is paid under the same conditions as for internationallyrecruited staff (see paragraph 3.5).

(b)within the country of their duty station,danger pay is paid under the same conditions as for locallyrecruited staff (see paragraph 3.6).

Section 4

Final provisions

4.1This administrative instruction enters into force on 1 March 2012.

4.2CF/AI/2006-015 and CF/AI/2006-015 Amend.1 on Hazard Pay areabolished effective 29February 2012.

(signed) Sally Fegan-Wyles

Director a. i., Division of Human Resources

1

[1] A/66/30 (Report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2011, p. 63)