As an IP, NO or GS staff member, you may be entitled to several benefits, depending on your duty station, type of assignment and other contextual factors. Upon acceptance of a job offer, UNICEF staff receive consolidated, up-to-date information about their benefits and entitlements under their contract. Benefits can include:
Tax exemption
Salaries, grants and allowances paid by the United Nations to staff are normally exempt from income tax.
Family allowances
Depending on your contract type, you may be entitled to family allowances, including dependency allowances if you have an eligible dependent spouse and/or child(ren) and, under certain conditions, an education grant if you have eligible children in school.
Rental subsidy
IP staff may qualify for a rental subsidy if they are newly arrived at the duty station and their rent represents too high a proportion of their total remuneration.
Relocation support
IP staff may have their travel and shipping expenses covered when moving from one duty station to another. An assignment grant may also be provided to IPs, to assist them in meeting initial extraordinary costs when arriving at or relocating to a new duty station.
Hardship benefits
At emergency and high-risk duty stations, a hardship allowance linked to living and working conditions is paid to IPs, and where there are restrictions on bringing family members, a non-family hardship allowance is also paid. IPs may also receive hazard pay and a rest and recuperation break when you serve in locations where the conditions are particularly hazardous, stressful and difficult. Read more about working in emergency settings, non-family duty stations and duty station categories.
Holidays and leave
Depending on your contract type, you will be entitled to 18 to 30 days of vacation per year. In addition, the United Nations also observes 10 paid holidays per year; these differ from duty station to duty station. IPs may also be eligible for home leave travel to renew social, cultural and family ties in their home country. The frequency of home leave depends on the duty station you are assigned to.
Maternity, paternity, adoption
Staff members of any gender or sex can benefit from parental leave entitlements, regardless of how they become parents. This includes mothers, fathers, parents via surrogacy or adoption, and primary and secondary caregivers.
Health insurance
Staff are eligible to participate in one of the United Nations-sponsored medical insurance plans, which include dental insurance. The monthly premiums are co-shared by yourself and the Organization.
Retirement pension
If you have a staff appointment of six months or more or complete six months of service without an interruption, you become a participant in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. A compulsory contribution will be deducted from your monthly salary.
Career Support
Our career management, learning, performance management and mobility prorgammes ensure that staff are well equipped to advance in their careers.
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