ITU Conditions of employment for fixed term appointment​

A fixed-term appointment is a time-limited appointment of one year or more. Fixed-term appointments do not carry any expectancy of renewal or conversion to any other type of appointment. A fixed-term appointment may be extended, under the conditions set by the Secretary‑General, provided that the total duration of service under consecutive fixed-term appointments does not exceed five years. Exceptionally, service on such appointments may be further extended for up to one additional year under the conditions set by the Secretary-General.  

A fixed-term appointment is conditioned on a probationary period of a minimum of one year, counting towards the total duration of service under consecutive fixed-term appointments, which may be extended to up to two years when so required to permit a precise evaluation of a staff member’s performance and conduct or their suitability as an international civil servant. A decision to terminate a fixed-term appointment at the end of the probationary period stipulated in the letter of appointment for reasons of unsatisfactory service is not considered as a termination within the scope of the Staff Regulations.

The appointment is subject to a satisfactory medical examination to be carried out under the responsibility of the Medical Adviser of the ITU.   

Annual salary   

For Professional and Higher level categories, the remuneration consists, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, of: 

* The annual base salary and a variable Post Adjustment (non-pensionable). 

* Post adjustment is subject to modification and the percentage may differ at the time of appointment as also during the course of the contract 

* Allowances depending upon the personal situation of the staff member 

​Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs (CHF) after conversion from US dollars at a rate fixed by the Secretary-General.

1. Assignment grant  

On arrival in Geneva staff members are paid an assignment grant by the Union. Under certain conditions to be determined at the time of appointment, staff members may be entitled to other payments on assignment.

2. Dependency allowances

​The Dependency allowance for a dependent spouse is included in basic salary. Payment of dependency allowances will be based on recognition of dependency as defined in the ITU Staff Regulations and Rules. For the purpose of these Regulations and Rules, a "child" shall be the child of a staff member, under the age of 18 years, or if the child is in fulltime attendance at a school or university (or similar educational institution) under the age of 21 years for whom the staff member provides main and continuing support. If the child is totally and permanently disabled, the requirements as to school attendance and age shall be waived.

However, with a view to avoiding duplication of benefits and in order to achieve equality among staff members, the above dependency allowance for children will be reduced proportionately if the staff member or his/her spouse receives similar benefits from another source. 

An education grant is paid for each eligible child in full-time attendance at a school or university, or similar educational institution. A staff member whose home country is the country of his/her official duty station is not entitled to this grant, except in respect of physically or mentally disabled children. 

1. Travel

The travel expenses of an internationally recruited staff member and his/her dependents from the place of recruitment to the country of the duty station will be defrayed by the Union.

Dependents who may travel at ITU expense are: a spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18 years or under the age of 21 years if they are in full-time attendance at a school or university or of any age if they are totally and permanently disabled.

2. Removal

Appointment carries entitlement to removal of personal effects and household goods. The successful candidate will be informed of the detailed conditions.  

Rental Subsidy     

Under certain circumstances a rental subsidy can be granted to staff members newly arrived at the duty station when the rent represents too high a proportion of the total remuneration.  

Home Leave     

Internationally recruited staff members are granted home leave once every two years. A staff member whose home country is the country of his/her official duty station shall not be eligible for home leave. 

Pension Fund   

The successful candidate will be affiliated to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; a contribution of 7.9% of his/her pensionable salary will be deducted from his/her salary.  

In virtue of Regulation 9.7 of the Staff Regulations and Rules a repatriation grant shall be payable to staff members whom the Union is obligated to repatriate and who do not remain in the country of the duty station after separation from service. The repatriation grant shall not, however, be paid to a staff member who has been dismissed. Detailed conditions and definitions relating to eligibility shall be determined by the Secretary-General. The amount of the grant shall be proportional to the length of service with the Union.  

The selected candidate will be affiliated to the Staff Health Insurance Fund. A contribution amounting to 3.3% of base salary plus post adjustment will be deducted from his/her salary. A spouse recognized as a dependent, as defined in paragraph “Dependency Allowances” above, will be affiliated to the Health Insurance. A contribution amounting to 30% of the base rate applied to the staff member, i.e. 0.99 per cent of his/her base salary plus post adjustment, will be deducted from the salary of the staff member.

Salaries and other emoluments paid by the ITU are normally exempt of national income tax. Staff Members from countries which do not exempt ITU income from national income tax will receive reimbursement of national income tax paid.

Spouses and unmarried children of the family of International Civil Servants have access to the Swiss employment market under conditions stipulated by the competent Swiss authorities.

Spouses and unmarried children of the family of International Civil Servants have access to the Swiss employment market under conditions stipulated by the competent Swiss authorities.   

A staff member whose home country is the country of his/her official duty station shall not be eligible for the following allowances and entitlements: Assignment grant, Education grant, Rental subsidy, Travel and removal, Home leave and Repatriation grant.

The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 for those entering or re-entering service after 1 January 2014. Only applicants who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.​