United Nations General Assembly Resolution 13 (Annex II)

by the UN General Assembly

13 (Annex II). Provisional Staff Regulations

1. Duties and Obligations of the Secretariat.

Regulation 1

The Secretary-General and all members of the staff of the Organization are international civil servants, and their responsibilities are not national but exclusively international. By accepting appointment, they pledge themselves to discharge their functions and to regulate their conduct with the interests of the United Nations only in view. In the performance of their duties they shall not seek nor receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization. All members of the staff are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, and are responsible to him in the exercise of their functions.

Regulation 2

Upon accepting their appointment, all members of the staff shall subscribe to the following oath or declaration:

"I solemnly swear (undertake, affirm, promise) to exercise in all loyalty, discretion and conscience the functions entrusted to me as a member of the international service of the United Nations, to discharge those functions and regulate my conduct with the interests of the United Nations only in view, and not to seek or accept instructions in regard to the performance of my duties from any government or other authority external to the Organization."

Regulation 3

The oath or declaration shall be made orally by the Secretary-General and Assistant Secretaries-General at a public meeting of the General Assembly, and by the other higher officers in public before the Secretary-General or his authorized deputy.

Regulation 4

The immunities and privileges attaching to the United Nations by virtue of Article 105 of the Charter are conferred in the interests of the Organization. These privileges and immunities furnish no excuse to the staff members who enjoy them for non-performance of their private obligations or failure to observe laws and police regulations. In any case where these privileges and immunities arise, the staff member concerned shall immediately report to the Secretary-General, which whom alone it rests to decide whether they shall be waived.

Regulation 5

Members of the staff shall exercise the utmost discretion in regard to all matters of official business. They shall not communicate to any person any unpublished information known to them by reason of their official position except in the course of their duties or by authorization of the Secretary-General.

Regulation 6

Members of the staff shall avoid any action, and in particular any kind of public pronouncement or activity which may adversely reflect on their position as international civil servants. They are not expected to give up their national sentiments or their political and religious convictions; but they shall at all times bear in mind the reserve and tact incumbent upon them by reason of their international status.

Regulation 7

No member of the staff shall accept, hold, or engage in any office or occupation which in the opinion of the Secretary-General is incompatible with the proper discharge of his duties with the United Nations.

Regulation 8

Any member of the staff who becomes a candidate for the public office of a political character shall resign from the Secretariat.

Regulation 9

No member of the staff shall accept any honour, decoration, favour, gift or fee from any Government or from any other source external to the Organization during the period of his appointment, except for war services.

2. Appointment, Probation and Promotion.

Regulation 10

Men and women are equally eligible for all posts in the Secretariat.

Regulation 11

So far as practicable, appointments to posts in the Secretariat shall be made on a competitive basis.

Regulation 12

Persons appointed to permanent posts in the Secretariat shall serve such probationary period as may be prescribed by the Secretary-General.

Regulation 13

The Secretary-General shall provide facilities to train members of the staff in subjects relating directly or indirectly to their duties. This training shall apply particularly to members on probation whose earlier educational opportunities have been inadequate or whose language qualifications are deficient.

Regulation 14

With due regard to the maintenance of the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible and without prejudice to the inflow of fresh talent at the various levels, vacancies shall be filled by promotion of persons already in service of the United Nations in preference to appointments from outside. This consideration shall also be applied, on a reciprocal basis, to the specialized agencies brought into relationship with the Organization.

Regulation 15

The Secretary-General shall provide machinery through which members of the staff may participate in the discussion of questions relating to appointment and promotion.

3. Salaries.

Regulation 16

Pending the adoption of a permanent classification plan, the salaries of the members of the staff other than Assistant Secretaries-General and Directors shall be determined by the Secretary-General within a range between the salary adopted by the General Assembly for the post of Director and the best salaries and wages paid for stenographic, clerical, and manual work at the seat of the United Nations.

4. Hours of Work.

Regulation 17

The whole time of members of the staff shall be at the disposal of the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General shall establish a normal working week.

5. Leave.

Regulation 18

Members of the staff shall be allowed sick leave, maternity leave, special leave, annual local leave and home leave, as prescribed by the Secretary-General.

6. Disciplinary Measures.

Regulation 19

The Secretary-General may impose disciplinary measures on members of the staff whose conduct or work is unsatisfactory. He may discharge a member of the staff who persistently fails to give satisfactory service. He may summarily dismiss a member of the staff for serious misconduct.

7. Termination of Appointments.

Regulation 20

The normal age of retirement for members of the staff shall be 60 years. In exceptional circumstances the Secretary-General may, in the interest of the Organization, extend this age limit to 65 years if it would be in the interest of the United Nations to do so.

Regulation 21

The Secretary-General may terminate the appointment of a member of the staff if the necessities of the service require the abolition of the post or a reduction of the staff, or if the services of the individual concerned prove unsatisfactory.

Regulation 22

If the Secretary-General terminates an appointment under regulation 21 he shall give at least three months' notice and pay an indemnity equivalent to at least three months' salary. The amount of the indemnity shall be increased with length of service up to a maximum of nine months' salary. These provisions of notice and indemnity shall not apply to probationers, to persons holding short-term contracts, or to persons summarily dismissed.

Regulation 23

The Secretary-General shall establish administrative machinery for inquiry and appeal in disciplinary and termination cases. This machinery shall provide for staff participations.

8. Travelling Expenses and Allowances.

Regulation 24

The travel expenses and travel allowances of members of the staff in respect of authorized journeys on the business of the United Nations shall be paid by the Organization subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary-General.

Regulation 25

Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary-General, the United Nations shall pay the removal costs and the travel expenses and travel allowances of members of the staff, and, in appropriate cases, their wives and dependent children:

(a) upon appointment to the Secretariat and on subsequent change of official station;

(b) at appropriate intervals for a journey to and from the place recognized as the staff member's home at the time of the initial appointment; and

(c) upon termination of appointment.

9. Staff Provident Fund.

Regulation 26

Pending the establishment of a permanent staff retirement scheme, a deduction shall be made from the salaries of members of the staff and paid into a staff provident fund to which the United Nations shall make an additional contribution.

10. Special Indemnities.

Regulation 27

A member of the staff who is injured as the result of an accident incurred in the course of his duty or who is compelled to discontinue his employment as a result of sickness directly attributable to his work in the service of the United Nations shall receive reasonable compensation. Should the staff member die in such circumstances, reasonable compensation shall be paid to his widow or such dependents as the Secretary-General may determine.

11. General Provisions.

Regulation 28

These regulations may be supplemented or amended by the General Assembly without prejudice to the acquired rights of members of the staff.

Regulation 29

The Secretary-General shall report annually to the General Assembly such staff rules and amendments thereto as he may make to implement these regulations.