WELCOME
TO
ESCAP
BANGKOK
IIN
NFFO
OR
RM
MA
ATTIIO
ON
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This document is intended for the general guidance and information of new staff members. Some
information contained in this document might also appear in the “Conditions of Service”, attached to the offer of
appointment. The United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules constitute the authoritative text establishing the
rights and obligations of staff members. The information in this document is subject to change at short notice.
Latest revision: January 2012
CONTENTS
I.
THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM.........................................................................................................1
A. Worldwide ................................................................................................................... 1
B. ESCAP ........................................................................................................................ 1
II.
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THAILAND .....................................................................................3
A.
Geography and climate ...................................................................................................... 3
B.
History ......................................................................................................................... 4
C.
Economy and Society ........................................................................................................ 5
D.
Religion ........................................................................................................................ 5
E.
Culture ......................................................................................................................... 5
F.
Language ...................................................................................................................... 6
G.
Thai cuisine ................................................................................................................... 6
H.
Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................. 7
III. PRE-ARRIVAL.................................................................................................................................................8
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Pre-arrival checklist ............................................................................................................................8
Immigration requirements...................................................................................................................9
Immunization requirements ................................................................................................................9
Medical examination.........................................................................................................................10
Travel arrangements..........................................................................................................................10
Shipment of personal effects and household goods ..........................................................................11
Import of household effects and cars ................................................................................................13
What to bring and not to bring ..........................................................................................................14
Important documents ........................................................................................................................15
IV. SETTLING IN .................................................................................................................................................16
A. Accommodation................................................................................................................................16
B. Education ..........................................................................................................................................17
C. Transport...........................................................................................................................................19
D. Health................................................................................................................................................21
E.
Shopping ...........................................................................................................................................21
F.
Recreation and entertainment............................................................................................................22
G. Other useful services.........................................................................................................................23
V.
OFFICE LIFE...........................................................................................................................................25
A. Your first day......................................................................................................................................25
B. Your first week ...................................................................................................................................26
C. Your first pay......................................................................................................................................27
D. Miscellaneous .....................................................................................................................................27
VI.
USEFUL REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................30
i
Annexes
I
Shipping entitlements ..................................................................................................... 31
II
Restricted occupations for aliens.................................................................................... 33
III
List of temporary accommodation.................................................................................. 34
IV
Salaries and Related allowance/benefits......................................................................... 35
V
ESCAP Secretariat Structure .......................................................................................... 39
VI
Map of Bangkok ............................................................................................................. 40
VII
The location and Layout of the buildings within the ESCAP Compound...................... 41
ii
I. THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM
A. Worldwide
The United Nations works worldwide through six major organs:
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General Assembly
Secretariat
Security Council
Economic and Social Council
Trusteeship Council
International Court of Justice
All are based at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, except for the International Court of
Justice which is based in The Hague. In addition there are 10 United Nations bodies and about 20 specialized
agencies and international organizations, located mostly in the developed world, but with a few headquartered in
developing countries.
The following organizations have regional or liaison offices in Bangkok: United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), Universal Postal Union (UPU) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as
well as United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN ISDR).
B. ESCAP
The regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region is the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It is located in the United Nations Building,
Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand. The functions of ESCAP have been defined by the SecretaryGeneral as follows:
(a)
Promoting economic and social development through regional and subregional cooperation and
integration;
(b)
Serving as the main economic and social development forum within the United Nations system for
the ESCAP region;
(c)
Formulating and promoting development assistance activities and projects commensurate with the
needs and priorities of the region while acting as an executing agency for relevant operational projects;
(d)
Providing substantive and secretariat services and documentation for the Commission and its
subsidiary bodies;
(e)
Carrying out studies, research and other activities within the terms of reference of the Commission;
(f)
Providing advisory services to governments at their request;
(g)
Developing and executing programmes of technical cooperation;
(h)
Coordinating ESCAP activities with those of the major departments/offices of the United Nations
at Headquarters and specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations.
To carry out these functions, the ESCAP secretariat comprises the Office of the Executive Secretary, the
Office of Deputy Executive Secretary, the Strategic Communications and Advocacy Section and the following
divisions, regional institutions and subregional offices:
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Administrative Services Division
Environment and Development Division
Information and Communications and Disaster Risk Reduction Division
Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division
Programme Management Division
Social Development Division
Statistics Division
Trade and Investment Division
Transport Division
1
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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CAPSA, Bogor, Indonesia
UN-APCAEM, Beijing, China
APCTT, New Delhi, India
APCICT, Incheon, Republic of Korea
SIAP, Chiba, Japan
Subregional Office for Pacific, Suva, Fiji
Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia, Incheon, Republic of Korea
Subregional Office for North and Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Subregional for South and South-West Asia, New Delhi, India
Annex V shows ESCAP Secretariat Structure.
2
II. GENERAL INFORMATION ON THAILAND
A.
Geography and climate
Located in South-East Asia, Thailand is bordered by Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand to the
south, Myanmar and the Andaman Sea to the west, Cambodia to the east and the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic to the north and north-east. Thailand covers about 513,000 square kilometres,
stretching approximately 1,715 kilometres from north to south and 915 kilometres at its widest point
from east to west. As of April 2000 it had a population of 60.6 million, one of the most homogeneous in
South-East Asia with a sprinkling of ethnic Chinese, Malays, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Burmese,
Indians, non-Thai hill tribes and others. In terms of population it is the fourth largest state in South-East
Asia.
The country can be divided into four natural regions: the mountainous north, where temperatures
are cool enough for the cultivation of lychees and strawberries; the north-east, a rolling semi-arid plateau
bounded on the north and east by the Mekong River; the isthmus of the south with its hilly rubber
plantations, fruit orchards, coves and bays; and the central region, the basin of the Chao Phraya River
and a most fertile rice-growing area. This region has become the administrative, political and
commercial centre of the country.
Bangkok has a tropical monsoonal climate with high humidity, but it is located outside the
typhoon belt. Most of the country experiences three seasons, the cool season from November to
January, the hot season from February to April and the rainy season from May to October. The average
rainfall (mostly in the form of heavy showers in the rainy season) is 142 centimetres and the annual
mean temperature is 28 degrees Celsius, ranging from a night minimum of 20 degrees Celsius in the cool
season to a maximum day temperature of 38 degrees Celsius in the hot season. With the high humidity
the weather can be oppressive, but the widespread use of air-conditioners alleviates the heat and
humidity.
Bangkok
Bangkok, known as Krung Thep (City of Angels) in Thai, has been the capital since 1782. It has
grown rapidly in recent years as the percentage of urban residents in Thailand has increased to 40 per
cent in 1999 from only 13 per cent in 1970. Bangkok’s official population figures are 6.3 million,
making it the predominant urban area in Thailand. Unofficially the total could reach 10 million. Almost
all major domestic and foreign companies are located in the capital, as are all government ministries and
most of the country’s leading educational and medical facilities, and sporting and cultural activities.
Bangkok is the focal point of Thailand’s aviation, railroad and communications networks, as well as the
first destination for the majority of tourists who come to occupy its more than 20,000 hotel rooms.
Bangkok, with its huge and diverse population, its shopping centres and high-rise office buildings, its
many Western-style apartment buildings, and its cosmopolitan sophistication, is truly an international
city, but it still retains temple compounds, Chinese shophouses and a vibrant street life.
The rapid growth of Bangkok has severely strained its facilities, causing a number of serious
problems. The city now has over a million registered motor vehicles and because of the limited road
surface, traffic congestion is heavy in downtown areas. Traffic, construction work and industries located
in the suburbs all contribute to an increasing pollution problem, with dangerously high levels of
suspended particulate matter from diesel and two-stroke vehicle engines.
Western influence and the predominance of the young have created a taste for new fashions and
new lifestyles, reflected in the growing popularity of tennis and golf, delicatessens and boutiques, music
and drama, architecture and interior decoration. Fast foods from the West, such as hamburgers, fried
chicken and pizzas, have become popular with young and old alike.
Annex VI is a map of Bangkok showing the location of ESCAP.
3
B.
History
Historically Thailand has been a South-East Asian migratory, cultural and religious crossroads.
Indeed there are conflicting opinions as to the origins of the Thai people. It was thought that they
originated in north-western Szechuan in China about 4,500 years ago and later migrated to their present
homeland. The first recorded mention of the Thai people occurs in the records of the southern Chinese
kingdom of Nan Chao which existed in the Yangtze River region in 700 AD. However, the discovery of
prehistoric artifacts in Ban Chiang in north-eastern Thailand, including evidence of a bronze metallurgy
in 3000 BC, and a rice-growing culture going back to 4000 BC suggest that these people later scattered
to various parts of Asia. A third theory suggests the Thais were originally of Austronesian, rather than
Mongoloid, stock and migrated northwards from the Malay archipelago.
People of Indian origin came to South-East Asia around the third century BC, bringing with them
Buddhism and Brahmanism. By the ninth to the eleventh century AD an “Indianized” civilization,
called Dvaravati, existed in central and western Thailand. Its people, the Mons, established Theravada
Buddhism as the dominant religion, but little else is known of them. By the eleventh to twelfth
centuries, Mon dominance was replaced by the Khmer empire to the east. This was a tightly organized
society with remarkable capacities for territorial and cultural expansion. From its capital in Angkor, it
stretched into the north-east, centre and west of Thailand. The Khmers played a significant role in the
evolution of Thai art, architecture and court life.
In the thirteenth century as Khmer power was waning, the first uniquely Thai kingdom was
founded in northern Thailand at Sukhothai. It was a brief, but brilliant era, during which the third king,
Ramkhamhaeng, devised an alphabet for the Thai language, purified the local Buddhism, established
diplomatic relations with China and encouraged a flowering of artistic expression in sculpture and
architecture. During the latter half of the fourteenth century, poor leadership and the emergence of strong
Thai states further south, particularly Ayutthaya, led to the decline of Sukhothai.
For over 400 years, Ayutthaya was the dominant power in the Chao Phraya basin. Thai culture
flourished and the nation’s political power was greatly extended, spanning parts of present-day
Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia and Myanmar. To administer this kingdom
a hierarchical social system, with the monarchs seen as god-kings, and a complex administrative system,
precursor of the present Thai bureaucracy, was evolved. Foreigners arrived in the sixteenth century,
international trade flourished and Ayutthaya became one of South-East Asia’s richest emporia,
comparing favourably with Paris and London.
Unfortunately, Ayutthaya’s relations with its neighbours were not always cordial and in 1767,
after a 15-month siege, the Burmese captured Ayutthaya, sacking and burning the city, and destroying
most of its artistic treasures and official archives. Yet within a few years of this shattering defeat, a halfChinese general, Phraya Taksin, had not only defeated all his rivals but also the Burmese invaders. He
became king and established his capital in Thonburi, strategically situated near the mouth of the Chao
Phraya River. However, the strain of fighting the invaders and building a new state took its toll on the
king. Following an internal political conflict in 1782 a fellow general, Chao Phraya Chakri, was chosen
king.
The new king, Rama I, established Bangkok as the capital and founded the Chakri dynasty of
which the ruling monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the ninth king. The first three kings devoted
themselves to nation-building. The following two kings, Rama IV and Rama V, through clever
diplomacy and westernizing policies, were able to avoid the colonial fate of Thailand’s neighbours.
Rama V abolished slavery and corvee labour, introduced postal and telegraph services, built railways
and secular schools and reorganized and modernized government ministries. For these achievements, he
is the most loved and honoured of all past Chakri kings.
The absolute monarchy continued until 1932, when the global economic depression and the return
of Western-educated Thais led to demands for reform. The king (Rama VII) had written a new
constitution, but before he could persuade his conservative relatives to accept it, a bloodless revolution
took place, establishing a constitutional monarchy on 10 December 1932. Two years later, Rama VII
abdicated and the throne passed to his nephew, the young King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) who
continued his studies in Switzerland. During the Second World War, the Thai Government allied itself
with the Axis powers, but there was a very strong Free Thai movement, which was of great help to the
Allies. Consequently, Thailand was spared having to make severe wartime reparations. Rama VIII
returned to Thailand after the Second World War, reigning until 1946. He was succeeded by his brother,
King Bhumipol, the present monarch. Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit are very active
4
in promoting numerous national development, agricultural and social welfare projects. They are highly
respected and deeply loved by the entire population and thus are a strongly unifying force.
C.
Economy and Society
The Thai economy is dynamic, with exports of goods and services accounting for over 70 per
cent of GDP in 2008. Main export commodities include rice, textiles and computer technology. Tourism
also contributes significantly to the Thai economy, accounting for about 6 per cent of GDP.
Thailand has had a long history of international dealings and trade with other countries that
have influenced its economy. Thailand has been fortunate to have a rich supply and diversity of natural
resources, as well as large stretches of fertile land and favorable growing conditions. This base of natural
resources and cultivatable soil gave Thailand a strong agrarian foundation on which it has built a
complex, multifaceted economy, which is now well established in the industrial and high technology
sectors. In the 1970s, an industrial sector based on import substitution began to emerge. By the 1980s,
the emphasis had changed to export-oriented manufacturing based on labor-intensive products. This
enabled Thailand, from the mid-1980s, to embark on a decade of rapid economic growth, averaging
close to 10 per cent a year. By the 1990s, the fastest growing export commodities were highertechnology goods, such as computer accessories and motor vehicle parts. The standards of living
improved dramatically, an aspiring middle class emerged, and skyscrapers dominated Bangkok’s
skyline.
As a focal point of the Asian financial crisis of 1997, Thailand was severely hit and a decade
long economic boom ended with a sharp GDP decrease of 10 per cent in 1998. The country’s economy
recovered, however, and reached annual growth rates of around 5 per cent over the recent decade while
considerably reducing poverty. As the world experienced economic crisis in late 2008, GDP contracted
in tandem with most countries. However, the Thai economy was more resilient than in 1997 due to
regulatory reforms over the past decade and prudent macroeconomic management.
The Thai currency is the Baht, which is divided into 100 satang. Coins are issued in 10 Baht,
five, two and one Baht, as well as 50 and 25 satang, denominations. Notes are issued in denominations
of 1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 20 Baht. The current US dollar to baht exchange rate can be found on the
following web sites: www.ethailand.com or http://bangkokpost.com .
D.
Religion
Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand but there is total religious freedom and all major
religions can be found in practice. Many of the Thai festivals are linked not only to Buddhist, but also to
Brahman rituals. There is absolute freedom of religion – Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and other faiths
are practiced and protected by the constitution. Buddhism is the faith of 95 per cent of the population, 4
per cent are Muslims, 0.5 percent are Christians, and the remainder Hindus, Sikhs and other religion.
E.
Culture
The Thai people are traditionally noted for their politeness, tolerance, peaceful way of life and
love of freedom. Although Thailand has suffered periodic invasions, and was occupied by Japan in the
Second World War, the strong desire for freedom has not been dampened. Bloodless coups and the
absence of civil wars are evidence of the strong desire for a peaceful way of life. It is a society of
relationships, not one of law. To understand Thai culture, knowledge of Buddhist philosophy is helpful.
The Thais have a genius for absorbing outside influences while retaining their own identity. For
example, from about 1850 until just after the Second World War there was a steady flow of immigrants
from China who established themselves in commerce throughout the country. The Government has
successfully encouraged the assimilation of the Chinese people, with the result that second and third
generation Tae Jiu, Cantonese and Hokkien regard themselves first and foremost as Thais.
There are certain recognizable Thai cultural markers that, if ignored, could make life in the office
a little difficult. Well over 90 per cent of the ESCAP General Service staff are Thai nationals. Some of
these markers will be familiar to other Asian peoples:
5
1.
Face
People are accorded their own personal dignity so it is considered very impolite to cause them to lose
their dignity through confronting them over a mistake or embarrassing them. Avoiding confrontation,
embarrassment or negativity allows people to “save face”.
2.
Sanook (fun)
Anything worth doing should have an element of fun or it becomes pure drudgery. Of course, this is
easier if several people are working together rather than in isolation. This possibly dates back to the
days when the whole community would be involved in the rice harvest or in building someone a new
house. One of the meanings of the Thai word for “work” is “party”.
3.
Relationships/deference
Since the time of Ayutthaya, Thai society has been hierarchical in terms of age, social class, wealth and
power. Therefore, it is difficult to find two people who are equal in all respects. In order to lubricate
this rather rigid system, a set of duties and rights for unequal relationships has been evolved. It is
sometimes called the patron-client relationship. The clients respect the patrons (for example,
subordinates do not challenge their boss in meetings, preferring to work behind the scenes) and the
patrons are obligated to care for or sponsor their clients (for example, the clients can ask for favours
involving money and jobs and the patron always has to pay the restaurant bill!).
4.
Comportment
Thailand is a relatively formal country where looks and behaviour are important and can determine how
foreigners are perceived and treated. A neat and clean appearance, discreet relations with the opposite
sex, and subtle, quiet modes of expression are respected. Thus, casual leisure wear is not seen in the
office and displays of impatience and temper are very much frowned upon. Skimpy beach wear, loud
behaviour and an unkempt appearance are offensive to Thai people.
5.
Respect for the monarchy and religion
It is taboo to speak disrespectfully of the royal family and of Buddhism. Not to stand for the royal
anthem or to enter a temple wearing shorts and a singlet is considered very disrespectful. Any
derogatory act that can be construed as lèse-majesté is a criminal offence.
In addition there are certain social norms, such as the “wai” (the placing together of both hands and
raising them to the chest or face) rather than the handshake. Some social taboos are as follows:
Do not:
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•
•
•
Touch another person’s head
Point with the feet (be careful when sitting with one leg crossed over the other)
Wear shoes in the house or in a temple
Touch a monk, however inadvertently, if you are a woman
Make public displays of affection between the sexes
F.
Language
Thai is the official language of the country, taught in all the schools, with four distinct dialects in
the different regions. It is a tonal language with five tones: rising, falling, mid, high and low. This
means that one letter may have several different sounds and one sound may be represented by different
letters. Mostly monosyllabic, Thai has few tenses, but a great abundance of pronouns that are used to
reflect status. The literacy rate is 93.8 per cent. The English transliteration of Thai words may vary
considerably, for example, the street on which the United Nations Building stands can be written as:
Rajdamnoen, Rajdamnern, Rajadamnern, Rajadamnoen or Ratchadamnoen.
G.
Thai cuisine
Thai cuisine is justifiably world famous. It is a subtle and complex blend of Chinese, Indian,
Malay and Polynesian influences. Seasoned with garlic, ginger and chilies, it mixes lime juice, lemon
grass, fresh coriander, basil, galanga root, tamarind juice, ground peanuts and coconut milk. Dishes
range from pungent curries, spicy salads, barbecued meat and seafood, to mild noodle dishes that can be
made spicy by adding different sauces. It surprises in its mix of meat and seafood in the same dish and
in the way it is served. There are some very sweet desserts, some deriving from Portuguese dishes, and a
great range of tropical fruits. In a Thai meal, all the dishes are put in the centre of the table to be shared,
6
but only one serving at a time is eaten with the rice. Serving spoons are not always provided. Thai food
is eaten with a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left hand. Chopsticks are used for noodle dishes.
H.
1.
Miscellaneous
Local weights and measures
The metric system is generally used, although the following Thai weights and measurements are
still in common use:
(a) Surface measurements
-
one rai equals 1,600 square metres (one acre = two and a half rai; one hectare = six
and a quarter rai);
one square wah equals four square metres (1 wah = 2 meters)
one niew equals one inch
(b) Weights
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one keed equals 100 grams
2.
Electricity supply: 220 volts and 50 cycles; equipment using 110 volts can only be used in
Thailand with a good transformer.
3.
Calendar: Although the Western calendar is widely used, the official Thai calendar follows the
Buddhist era (BE) that begins with the nirvana of the Lord Buddha 2,548 years ago. The difference
between the western and Thai calendar is 543 years. Thus, the conversion formula is to add 543 to the
western year to arrive at the Thai year. (For example, 2005 in Western calendar is 2548 in Thai.)
4.
DVDs and Videocassettes: The PAL system is used, although television sets, DVD players and
VCRs can be bought which are dual-voltage and multi-system. In addition, Thailand falls under region 3
of the DVD standard. This means that the DVD encoded for use in a different region may not play in
Thailand unless one has a region free player or a player that allows the region to be selected. Recordable
DVDs such as those created on a home computer should be playable in any DVD player.
7
III. PRE-ARRIVAL
A. Pre-arrival checklist
This is only for guidance. The list is not exhaustive and in some instances will include steps that may not be needed
depending on the staff member’s contractual status. (For further information, please contact the Human Resources
Management Section at [email protected], or send a fax request to 662-288-1045. )
Tasks
• Visas
Information/documents required by
To be sent to
ESCAP
• Passport details of staff member and Staff Administration
Unit/HRMS
eligible family members including
household help for whom visas are
requested
• Location of nearest Thai consulate
Contact person
Human Resources Assistant
• Travel
arrangements
• Staff member’s intended travel date
• Names of eligible family members
who will accompany staff member to
the duty station
• Hotel accommodation if required
• Immunization
Yellow fever certificate only if coming Medical Service
from Africa or South America
Medical Officer
• Medical
examination
Full medical report
Medical Officer
Staff Administration
Unit/HRMS
Medical Service
Human Resources Assistant
• Shipping
arrangements
• Origin/destination of shipment
• For staff members entitled to full
removal entitlement (please see Annex
I), ESCAP must be informed in writing
whether full removal or non-removal
allowance is requested
Staff Administration
Unit/HRMS
• Important
documents/
items that will
be submitted
upon arrival
• Passports for staff member, spouse
and dependent children
• Marriage certificate
• Proof of attendance at school or
university including start date of term
(for children between the ages of 1821)
• Birth certificates of spouse and
children, if passports not available
• Travel documents
9 used air tickets
9 boarding passes
9 travel-related receipts such as
airport fees, travel tax, visa
fees, excess baggage,
medical examination fee and
other approved expenses.
• Photographs
9 Six 2”x2” photographs per
person for Thai stay permit, ID
card and UNLP (staff member
only)
9 Two 1”x1” for driving license
• Detailed valued inventory and
other shipping documents
Staff Administration
Unit/HRMS
Human Resources Assistant
Protocol Office and Staff
Administration
Unit/HRMS
Visa Assistant
Human Resources Assistant
(to be introduced to you
on arrival)
Protocol Office
8
Human Resources Assistant
Shipping Assistant
(to be introduced to you
on arrival)
I.
B. Immigration requirements
All non-immigrant visas must be obtained from Thai embassies or consulates prior to entering
Thailand. If you obtain a tourist visa upon arrival in Bangkok, this visa cannot, under any
circumstances, be converted to a non-immigrant visa. Consequently, you have to leave Thailand at
your own expense before the tourist visa expires in order to obtain a non-immigrant visa.
Staff Member
Internationally recruited staff members (new recruits and transferees from other United Nations
duty stations) must obtain a valid non-immigrant visa, category “F”. Passport details and the exact
location of the Thai embassy/consulate nearest to you must be provided to the Human Resources
Management Section upon acceptance of an offer of appointment or official notification of transfer.
(Note: Consultants and experts should consult with the ESCAP Human Resources Management
Section.)
Family members
The visa required for family members is also non-immigrant, category “F”. The names and
passport details of the accompanying spouse and dependent children for whom entry visas are required,
should also be sent to the Human Resources Management Section. To facilitate travel outside Thailand,
individual family members should have their own passports. If children are only included on the
national passport or the Laissez-Passer of the staff member or on the national passport of the spouse,
Thai law requires the children to leave the country at the same time as the parent on whose passport they
are included.
Procedures for obtaining the visa
Upon receipt of the above information, the United Nations will request the issuance of visas to
the staff member, his/her spouse, dependent children and household help, if any, through the Thai
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please note that the visa, which is usually issued soon after the
embassy/consulate receives the authorization from the Ministry, must be collected in person from the
embassy/consulate. If the embassy/consulate is outside the city of your residence, a courier service may
be used to obtain the visa.
Following arrival in Thailand, staff members and eligible family members must obtain a stay
permit and a re-entry visa. The ESCAP Protocol Office will arrange this and a number of photographs
are required.
C. Immunization requirements
No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless a visitor is coming from countries where
yellow fever is prevalent, in which case a yellow fever vaccination is required. The United Nations
Medical Service recommends vaccinations against tetanus-diphtheria every ten years and against
typhoid, oral or injectable, every three years for staff members and their dependents. A consultation
with the Medical Service is advised for inoculations against hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis,
oral polio, influenza vaccine and meningococcal meningitis. Vaccines for children and vaccines for
pre- and post-exposure to rabies are available in hospitals. For up-to-date information, consult
International Travel and Health: Vaccination Requirements and Health Advice published annually by
the World Health Organization (see web site: http://www.who.int/ith/en/index.html)
9
D. Medical examination
All appointments to the United Nations are subject to satisfactory medical clearance. Please
arrange to be examined by physicians at the nearest well-established local hospital preferably one
connected with a Medical School and with X-ray facilities, or a designated United Nations Examining
Physician in your country (a list will be provided depending on your country of origin) .
This must be done as soon as possible, as we cannot complete your appointment and arrange for
your travel until we have received a satisfactory report from our Medical Officer. If the physician named
is not available, or if no one has been designated, please go to the nearest well-established local hospital
preferably one connected with a Medical School and with X-ray facilities.
Examining physicians should use the enclosed MS. 2 medical form and ensure that pages 3 and 4
of the form are filled up completely. Candidates also need to complete the first 2 pages of the form. As
soon as the examining physicians have the results of the chest X-ray and the necessary laboratory tests,
they should forward the full report by registered airmail to the Medical Officer, United Nations Medical
Service, UN-ESCAP, United Nations Building, Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200,
Thailand. Please note that no chest X-ray film should be forwarded to the Medical Officer, however, a
detailed report from the radiologist has to be submitted and should be sent at the same time as the
rest of the report. To expedite the medical clearance, a faxed copy of the full medical examination
report may also be sent to (66 2) 288 1044. However, please note that such copy does not replace the
original medical examination report.
The United Nations will reimburse you for the cost of this pre-placement medical examination,
consisting of the required laboratory tests, namely: Urinalysis, Stool exam (if indicated), CBC and ESR,
VDRL, Fasting Blood Sugar, Creatinine or B.U.N., Uric Acid, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Total Bilirubin,
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase), ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase), LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase),
GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase), and Chest X-ray. Electrocardiogram is required for candidates
over 40 years. Pap smear is required for married female candidates.
It is expected that the cost of pre-placement medical examinations will be consistent with the
prevailing medical fees of the country concerned. The United Nations will not be responsible for fees for
medical procedures which are not required by this pre-placement examination and will not on any account
be responsible for fees exceeding the equivalent of US$450 for U.S.A. and Japan; US$400 for European
Community and US$350 for the rest of the world. You are requested to pay the examining physician,
obtain a receipt of the bill and submit the original receipt to us for reimbursement.
E. Travel arrangements
As soon as the provisional offer of appointment or transfer has been confirmed by the
Organization, the travel will be authorized. Necessary arrangements will then be made in consultation
with the staff member and the tickets will be issued by the designated travel office. All tickets for
transportation involving official travel of staff members and eligible family members shall be purchased
by the United Nations in advance of the actual travel, unless the staff member concerned is specifically
authorized to purchase the tickets owing to exceptional circumstances.
In addition to the cost of tickets, a fixed amount of terminal expenses for such incidental
expenditures incurred during travel as taxi fares, bus fares, and the like may be authorized. Air ticket
stubs and all other transport receipts incurred during travel must be retained and submitted with a request
for reimbursement on a claim form (F.10) which should be submitted through the Administrative
Assistant of your section/division after your arrival at the duty station.
Route, mode and standard of transportation
The route, mode and standard of transportation are established and approved in advance by the
United Nations. As a rule, the normal route for travel shall be the most direct and economical route. If
the travel is undertaken by the approved direct route and mode under arrangements which are less
expensive than the approved entitlement, the United Nations will only pay the actual cost incurred.
If a staff member wishes to deviate from the approved route, he/she must inform the Human
Resources Management Section and obtain the necessary approval before beginning the travel. Please
note that if one travels by an indirect route, the entitlement in terms of time and cost will not exceed that
10
which one would be entitled to if he/she were travelling by the route and mode established by the
Organization.
Travel of dependants
Staff members holding appointments for one year or more are entitled to payment of travel
expenses to bring their spouse and dependent children under the age of 18 to the duty station from the
place of recruitment or from the place of home leave. If any of the children are between the ages of 18
and 21, proof that they are in full-time attendance at a school or university (or similar educational
institution) or that they have been admitted to such an institution from the beginning of the next term
must be submitted if the United Nations is to authorize travel as dependants. It is also necessary to
indicate when their next school term begins, since the education grant travel, if applicable, will not be
paid if the Organization considers the timing unreasonable.
As soon as possible, the names and ages of the accompanying spouse and any dependent
children must be provided to Human Resources Management Section including the best estimate of the
date of departure from the place of recruitment. If the spouse and dependent children are travelling from
other than the place of recruitment, this information must be provided to Human Resources Management
Section as well. However, it must be noted that the United Nations will not pay for costs beyond the
authorized entitlement.
When final arrangements have been made for travel to Bangkok, Human Resources Management
Section, Administrative Services Division, must be informed of the date and time, flight number and
name of carrier and whether arrangements for hotel accommodation in Bangkok are required.
Accompanied excess baggage: Under United Nations rules, United Nations travellers shall be entitled to
payment of the cost of accompanied excess baggage, in respect of themselves and their eligible family
members for one bag in addition to their free baggage allowance or up to 25 kg per traveller. Charges for
excess baggage beyond the limits provided for in the above-mentioned shall not be reimbursable. Hence,
detailed receipts must be obtained showing the weight or number and size of pieces of the excess baggage
and the rate charged for any payments made. The Organization will reimburse up to the amount of the
entitlement for the staff member and each of his/her family member eligible to travel at the expense of the
Organization, provided the receipts are submitted with the claim.
F. Shipment of personal effects and household goods
ESCAP Human Resources Management Section will arrange the shipment of personal effects
and household goods for staff members, including insurance coverage up to their entitlement as specified
in the relevant Staff Rules. (The entitlement will vary according to the length and type of
appointment. Please refer to Annex I for details.)
Personal effects and household goods include all effects and goods normally required for
personal or household use. Animals, boats, automobiles, motorcycles, trailers, other power assisted
conveyances and flammable or hazardous materials will not be considered as such effects and goods.
Consumable goods, such as food, liquors and wines, should also not be included in the shipment of
personal effects, nor should they be sent separately, as it is not possible to clear them through customs.
It is also advisable not to include jewellery, currency or coins in shipments. Insurance companies
generally charge higher premiums on articles of special or unusual value, as well as on antiques,
jewellery, furs, coins and stamp collections, irrespective of their value. In such cases, any cost above the
normal premium has to be borne by the staff member. The Thai Government requires that the import of
facsimile machines, Buddha images, bicycles and sports equipment can only be done with the prior
approval of the government, on a case-by-case basis. Staff on temporary assignments are normally
exempt from customs duty on accompanied or unaccompanied baggage, but this privilege is not
guaranteed. Therefore, only used personal effects should be included in the baggage.
The import of all vegetables, fruits and plants is subject to quarantine control and the import of
certain perishables is prohibited. Should a staff member intend to make such imports, advice should be
sought from the Human Resources Management Section. Pets may enter as the passenger’s checked
baggage, in the cabin or as cargo, but they need a health certificate. Dogs and cats also need a rabies
certificate.
11
Permission is required from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Police Department for the
import and local purchase of firearms and ammunition. Applications for such permission must have the
prior approval of ESCAP Administration. However, as there is no sport shooting of game or wild fowl
in Thailand, the import of firearms and ammunition is very strongly discouraged. Flammable and
hazardous materials cannot be shipped at the expense of the Organization.
Shipping arrangements
The United Nations will designate a local moving company for the packing and shipping of
personnel effects and household goods. Prior to the arrival of the moving company's estimator, the staff
member should determine which goods are to be packed and shipped. It will be his/her responsibility to
ensure that the goods are available at the time of pick-up or packing of the shipment. Only one pick-up
per shipment is authorized at the United Nations expense. Costs for storage, if any, are the staff
member’s personal responsibility and should be paid directly to the moving company before the goods are
shipped.
Exception: Split shipments
Shipment shall normally be made in one consignment. However, unaccompanied shipments for
appointments of one year or longer and removal of household effects may be split into not more than two
shipments if the cost of the combined weight and volume of the two shipments does not exceed the total
entitlement.
Split shipments on appointment may be authorized between the following places of departure
and destination; (a) one of the shipments must be to the initial duty station and may be from anywhere;
(b) the other shipment may be from the place of recruitment to the place of home leave, or to the place
where the staff member’s spouse and/or dependent children reside.
Requests for split shipment should be made before the staff member’s departure and not later
than two months after arrival at the initial duty station.
Insurance coverage for shipments
ESCAP will arrange on your behalf with the United Nations Headquarters, New York, in-transit
insurance coverage not exceeding $16,000 for you, $8,000 for the first family member, and $4,800 for
each additional family member for authorized unaccompanied baggage shipments. In order to obtain this
coverage you are required to submit shipping documents together with a detailed inventory by airmail to
ESCAP giving the replacement value of each article, including containers (trunks, suitcases etc.) in
United States dollars. The total dollar value of all items must be shown in order for you to know if you
have exceeded your entitlement and are thereby responsible for bearing such excess insurance premium
costs. Articles of special or unusual value (such as antiques, jewellery, furs, coins, stamp collections and
paintings) are subject to special rates and will be insured at your expense. These items should therefore
be listed separately on the inventory. Insurance coverage is arranged by United Nations Headquarters
upon receipt of the itemized valued inventory and a written request from you agreeing to pay your share
of the premium costs. If the total value of the inventory exceeds the entitlement, you will be charged the
extra premium costs since insurance coverage is provided at United Nations expense only up to the
amount of the entitlement. If you do not agree to pay the extra insurance premium costs in cases where
the valuation of the shipment exceeds your entitlement or where articles subject to special rates are
included in a shipment, the shipment will not be covered fully and claims may be challenged by the
insurance company and settled on a pro-rated basis.
ESCAP will arrange on your behalf with the United Nations Headquarters, New York, in-transit
insurance coverage for a removal shipment up to a maximum of US$80,000 for you, or US$130,000 if the
shipment includes effects of your spouse or dependent children. This maximum insurance entitlement is
reduced by the amount of coverage provided by the United Nations if an advance shipment was made. In
order to obtain insurance coverage, you are required to submit a detailed inventory and follow the
procedure outlined in the previous paragraph.
If you prefer to make your own insurance arrangements, prior approval is required. If such
approval has been given, you may receive reimbursement from the United Nations within the limits of
your entitlement upon submission of receipted invoices for premium payments together with the detailed
valued inventory. The premium reimbursement will not exceed the amount that the United Nations
would have paid to obtain insurance coverage taking into account the total valuation of your detailed
12
inventory and the premium rates. In such cases, the United Nations will not render any assistance in the
settlement of claims for loss or damage.
Customs clearance
The ESCAP Human Resources Management Section and the Protocol Office will arrange for
unaccompanied shipment to be cleared through diplomatic privilege formalities at the Customs
Department in Bangkok upon receipt of the shipping documents and information regarding the scheduled
arrival time for the shipment. It is important for the staff member to be in Bangkok and in contact with
the Protocol Office before the unaccompanied shipment arrives, as unaccompanied shipments cannot be
cleared through Customs until the owner has arrived and completed the necessary forms for this purpose.
Two to three weeks should be allowed for clearance of shipments through customs after arrival.
It is important that the bill of lading or airway bill, plus an itemized valued inventory of both household
and official shipments, be sent to ESCAP in advance as it is not possible to begin clearance procedures
without these documents.
Unaccompanied shipments and shipping documents including detailed valued inventory should
be addressed as follows:
Staff Member’s Name
c/o UN- ESCAP
The United Nations Building
Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200
Thailand
Storage
Storage, insurance, cartage, or warehouse expenses incurred for unaccompanied baggage related
to storage will normally be charged to the staff member as these expenses are not normally reimbursed by
the United Nations. It is recommended to time the shipment to reach the destination after a residence has
been obtained in order to avoid charges for storage and subsequent delivery to residence from storage.
G. Import of household effects and cars
1. Free entry privileges
Internationally recruited staff with appointments of one year or more are entitled to duty-free
privileges for their personal and household effects. These privileges apply to all initial shipments of
personal effects, including furniture arriving within six months of the staff member’s arrival in Bangkok.
Important information about importing a car
Traffic moves on the left side of the road, so a right-hand drive car is necessary. In order to be
eligible to purchase a duty-free car, a staff member’s contract with ESCAP should be at least one year.
For staff members who wish to import a new car, it is important to order as soon as possible but a prior
authorization needs to be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Thai Government
through the ESCAP Protocol Office. Some automobile companies take longer than six months to ship a
car. It should also be noted that a car cannot be cleared through Thai customs without the presence of
the owner.
The current tax structure includes four elements: import tax, excise duty, municipality tax and
value added tax. All in all, the overall tax for new cars will range from approximately 213.171 per cent
with engines less than 2400 cc to approximately 308.051 per cent for those above 3000 cc. The tax rate
for used cars will be lower.
13
Details of the procedures for importing a car can be obtained from the Protocol Office,
Administrative Services Division upon arrival. However, for initial guidance, the following should be
noted:
(a)
Staff members in the Professional category and above can buy only one duty free car at a time.
The replacement by another duty-free car may be allowed only after at least two years from the
registration date of the previous car.
(b)
In processing the replacement of the car, the staff member will have to initiate a request and
obtain approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Thai Government to dispose of the
current car, which is subject to taxation in accordance with the above structure, after deducting a very
marginal depreciation rate, unless:
(i)
The car is sold to another person who also enjoys such diplomatic privilege (eligible
United Nations staff members or officials of diplomatic missions); or
(ii)
The car has been in Thailand for five years from the date of its arrival at the port.
As an alternative to buying a new car, some staff members look for a vehicle being sold by a colleague
or another duty-free privileged person (the choice is usually limited) or second-hand cars from abroad.
Advertisements of sale of cars and other items are normally placed at the notice board in front of the
Cafeteria, located on the 4th floor of the Service Building, and in the ESCAP bulletin board in the Lotus
Notes.
H. What to bring and not to bring
The widespread emulation in Bangkok of the Western style of life ensures that a very wide
range of articles is available, although import tariffs on Western goods are high. Very few items are
unobtainable, only certain food items that are unique to certain cuisines. Even some of these are
available in newer supermarkets or can be purchased through the twice-yearly orders of groceries
available to ESCAP staff. Liquor, wine and beer at duty-free prices are also delivered twice a year.
1. What to bring
(a)
American and European cosmetics are expensive in Thailand so you might wish to bring a
three-to-six month supply - cosmetics kept for any longer might not weather the heat and humidity of
Bangkok; hair colour is only available in permanent format;
(b)
If you take a large shoe size or a large width size, you may wish to bring shoes with you or have
them made to order in Bangkok;
(c)
Again, although there is a wide selection of ladies’ clothes available, the larger sizes are
limited; however, clothes can be made to order at reasonable prices. Light cotton clothing is needed for
outside, but clothing with synthetic fibres can be worn in the air-conditioned office, hotels, shopping
malls and restaurants. Short, not long, cocktail dresses are needed for receptions;
(d)
You may wish to bring items of sports equipment, such as for golf, tennis and squash. They are
available locally, but at varying costs;
(e)
You may also wish to bring some medicine and dietary supplements which can be quite
expensive.
2. What not to bring
(a)
You will only need to bring some woollen or warm clothing for vacations or official trips to
colder climates;
(b)
Do not bring items which cannot stand year-round humidity and dust, such as delicate wallhangings or valuable books unless you are prepared to continuously air-condition and dehumidify the
room in which they are placed;
(c)
Do not bring valuable furniture that could suffer cracking when you return to your own country;
(d)
A wide range of pharmaceutical products can be bought from the well-stocked pharmacies in
Bangkok. However, as previously indicated, some medicine and dietary supplements such as vitamins
can be quite expensive.
14
(e)
Small electrical and electronics appliances are available in Thailand at reasonable prices. It is
cheaper to buy 200v appliances for local use in Thailand than to buy converters to run 100v appliances.
I. Important documents
The following is a list of the documents that you should bring with you:
(a)
Personal documents: The United Nations requires certain official documentation from persons
newly reporting for duty. A birth certificate or passport is required to confirm your date of birth. If you
are married, you must show a copy of your marriage certificate and the birth certificates of your spouse
and children, in order to establish your entitlement to dependency allowances and benefits. You will
also have to provide evidence of your nationality in the form of a valid passport.
(b)
Your children’s educational records are useful if you wish to enrol a child in an international
school or university in Thailand. In addition, if your children are between the ages of 18 and 21 and are
in full-time attendance at a school or university and you wish to claim travel expenses for them, you
must have proof (a letter or a receipt) that they are in full-time attendance or have been admitted for the
next term.
(c)
If your spouse has been unable to secure employment before coming to Thailand and wishes to
apply for work locally, copies of educational qualifications and work histories are useful. (Please refer
also to the section on “Employment for Spouses”.)
(d)
Air ticket stubs, boarding passes and all other travel-related receipts incurred during travel to
the duty station in order to claim reimbursement.
(e)
A no-claims certificate is useful in obtaining a lower quote for car insurance; international or
national driving license.
(f)
International or national driving license will facilitate in obtaining a local license.
15
IV. SETTLING IN
A. Accommodation
1. Temporary accommodation
ESCAP Human Resources Management Section can arrange accommodation at hotels that are
close to the office and offer special rates. A list of these hotels can be found in Annex III.
2. Permanent accommodation
Most expatriates rent a house, townhouse, apartment or a serviced apartment within one to two
months of arrival. Following a change in the law, expatriates can now buy a condominium, but not a
house or an apartment (the difference between a condominium and an apartment is that in a
condominium building, each unit is owned individually whereas all units in an apartment building are
owned by one person or group of people). Since the building boom of the early 1990s, there are fewer
houses available, but some can still be found in both the centre and the suburbs. However, apartment
living is most common. Apartments and condominiums are concentrated in the centre and are usually of
a better standard, larger size and have extra facilities such as squash courts, swimming pool, jacuzzi. In
addition, there are 24-hour security guards in all blocks of apartments and condominiums. In serviced
apartments, laundry and cleaning service, as well as restaurants, are available. According to most
expatriates, the standard of accommodation is as good as that of the home country. As Bangkok covers a
wide area and suffers from severe traffic congestion, the choice of residence depends on its proximity to
the office or school.
3. Type of lease
Accommodation is usually rented either fully furnished or partially furnished. For tax purposes,
house owners often choose to have two rental agreements, one for the house and one for the furniture.
Tenancies are usually for one or two years with a deposit of between one and three months’ rent. It is
important that expatriates have the “diplomatic clause” written into their contract so that if they are
suddenly reassigned they could break their rental contract on one month’s notice without having to pay
for the full rental period. Rentals must be negotiated at the expiration of each lease period. It can be
worthwhile to take temporary accommodation before committing to a one-year contract.
Houses and apartments usually contain beds, dressing-tables, wardrobes (or built-in closets),
dining and sitting room furniture, and the larger appliances such as air-conditioners, refrigerators,
cooking stoves and water heaters. Rattan furniture at reasonable prices, if negotiated, can be purchased
to supplement the existing furniture or the more expensive teak or rosewood furniture can be bought.
Western-style sofas and armchairs are expensive in Bangkok. Smaller kitchen and household appliances,
linens, cutlery, china and glassware are not provided but are available on the local market. The United
Nations Women’s Club will rent out, for a small fee, a set of cutlery, china, pots and pans for those
whose shipment has not yet arrived (you can contact them at: c/o UNDP, P.O. Box 618, Bangkok
10200).
4. Prices
Prices are generally higher in the central business area (Sukhumvit and Sathorn Roads, Ploenchit,
Rajadamri), but lower across the river to the west and in the eastern and northern suburbs, with the
exception of Nichada Park which surrounds the American international school well to the north of
Bangkok. Bangrak, Petchburi, Prakanong, Phya Thai, Phaholyothin, Samsen and Dusit are intermediate
price areas for accommodation. House rents do not include electricity, gas or water, whereas some
apartments do.
Monthly rents can vary from 35,000 baht for modest housing to over 100,000 baht for superior
accommodation. The average rents for different types of accommodation were collected by ESCAP
from three estate agencies in December 2006. In addition, in 1999 ESCAP surveyed rents paid by 57
United Nations staff members who were receiving a rental subsidy and thus paying above the average of
other staff members (most staff members pay lower rents than those estimated by the estate agents). The
results are given in Annex IV.
16
5.
Conditions of accommodation
Although houses can feel more spacious than apartments and usually have a reasonably sized
garden, they can be more susceptible to burglary and require more maintenance. For this reason, people
usually employ two domestic staff so that someone is always on the premises. Check for the following:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
How far is the home from the office, school and expressway access?
Is the water supply adequate? Turn on the taps.
Are there obvious electrical hazards? Check the electric points.
Check that electrical and gas appliances work.
Do balconies have a sturdy, high railing?
Do the telephones work?
Does the road and the compound flood in the rainy season? Is the road one way?
Is the home screened against mosquitoes and flies?
Are the surroundings reasonably clean?
Is the property adequately fenced against stray dogs and burglars?
Ask that gas hot water heaters be exchanged for electrical ones.
Visit at least twice to check the noise, traffic congestion and pollution at different times of the
day.
Ask for improvements if necessary, such as furniture, lamps, fans, repainting.
Are there any recreation facilities nearby?
6.
Finding accommodation
It is preferable to go to an established agency. Recently there have been a number of unqualified
people setting up as estate agents. The estate agency fee is paid by the property owner. It is also useful
to check the notice board on the fourth floor of the Service Building (near the cafeteria) and the bulletin
board, Personal Ads, on Lotus Notes which will be installed on your office computer. One can also
walk into the rental office in apartment buildings (not applicable to condominiums) to look at available
apartments and negotiate directly with the building management. The followings are websites of real
estate agencies that may be useful to you:
http://www.bangkokhomequality.com
http://www.housecondobangkok.com
http://www.propertytosearch.com
http://www.condobangkok.com
http://www.bkkcitismart.com
http://www.bangkok-homes.com
http://www.centrepoint.com
http://www.thaiapartment.com
http://www.accomasia.co.th
You can also find real estate agencies advertise in the Bangkok
(http://www.bangkokpost.com) and the Nation (http://www.nationmultimedia.com) newspapers.
Post
B. Education
1.
Playgroups
There are playgroups in Bangkok, but they are not institutionalized. A mother with young
children will set up an informal group, which will be disbanded when the children enrol in school. It is
best to ask around once you arrive. Pregnant women and parents of young children can obtain advice
and support from Bambi, a non-profit organization (http://www.bambiweb.org/).
2.
International kindergartens
There are several English-speaking kindergartens scattered around Bangkok. Ones that have
been favoured by staff members in the past include Magic Years Preschool in Chaeng Watana
(telephone 02 584 6047), the Early Learning Centre in Sukhumvit (telephone 02 381 2919) and the
Noddy Play Group in Soi Kaeng Chuan, off Linchi Road (telephone 02 286 6022). Most of the
international schools also have kindergarten sections, but the fees are on a par with their primary and
secondary departments.
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3.
International schools
Seventy-five international schools are registered with the International Schools Association of
Thailand in addition to national schools, such as the Indonesian School at the Indonesian Embassy, the
Lycée Français de Bangkok, the Swiss-German section of Ruam Rudee International School, and the
Thai-Japanese Association School. Details of the international schools can be found on the International
Schools Association’s web site: http://www.isat.or.th. English is the medium of instruction in the
international schools, with different language classes being offered in different schools. As many of
these international schools are new, they do not have a long track record, except by association, for
example, Harrow International School which is allied to Harrow School, England and Shrewsbury
International School, which is allied with Shrewsbury School in England.
Indeed many of the international schools were founded in the 1990s as a result of a government
regulation in 1991 that allowed the establishment of new international schools. Consequently parents
have a wide choice, but at the same time they need to carefully check the reality behind the glossy
brochures. A possible checklist could include the following:
(a)
Curriculum: Is it American, British, international, Thai? Are teaching methods traditional or
child-centered? How much homework is given?
(b)
Accreditation: All international schools have to be accredited by the Thai Ministry of Education.
American schools overseas should be accredited by one of four national accredited agencies, such as the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges or the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges,
so that credits and certificates can be transferred if children return to the United States. International
schools can be accredited by the European Council of International Schools. Schools following the
British or Australian system do not always apply for accreditation if they offer internationally recognized
examinations, such as the International Baccalaureate or the International General Certificate of
Education (IGCE).
(c)
Faculty:
Do the teachers have professional qualifications and certification?
experience do they have and where?
How much
(d)
Location: The three older schools moved out from the city centre over 10 years ago in order to
custom-build their classrooms and expand their sporting facilities. Most of the new schools were also
built in the suburbs. Consequently, some parents choose to find accommodation near the school of their
choice so that their children do not have to spend hours commuting. However, some staff members who
have located near their children’s school find that all their children’s friends live in central Bangkok. All
the schools provide school buses, at a cost, but parents need to check how the bus service is run,
including the condition and size of the buses, the routes, the drivers’ qualifications, the monitors who
supervise the children and the provision of seatbelts.
(e)
Language: If English is the medium of instruction, check how many native English speakers
there are in a class.
(f)
Nationality: Is there a good mix of nationalities or does one predominate?
(g)
Parent participation: Some schools welcome the close involvement of parents, while others
operate on more hierarchical systems that are not democratic. Is there a parents’ association? Are
parents welcome in the classroom? Do parents elect a governing body?
(h)
Special needs: There is only one school in Thailand that caters to children with special
educational needs. The St. Andrews International School in Thailand established the first Special
Educational Needs Centre at its school on Sukhumvit 71 Road. Most international schools offer English
as a Foreign Language classes, but the cost and methods of delivery vary widely, from immediate
immersion into the regular class to total withdrawal until some degree of proficiency is acquired.
Currently, the children of staff members attend the following schools:
−
−
−
−
−
Bangkok Patana School
Harrow International School
International School of Bangkok
New International School of Thailand
Ruam Rudee International School
18
−
−
−
Shrewsbury International School
Thai-Japanese Association School
Lycee Français International de Bangkok
For further information on how to select an international school, look at International Schools in
Thailand by Jennifer Sharples and Colin De’Ath, and the education section in the Bangkok Guide by the
Australian and New Zealand Women’s Group.
4. Universities
Universities in Thailand offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, but the majority are in
the Thai language. A listing of public and private universities and institutions can be found on the web
site: http://www.internationaleducationmedia.com/thailand/universities.htm.
The Asian Institute of Technology is an English medium institution, offering advanced education
in engineering, science, planning and management (http://www.ait.ac.th/). Assumption University of
Thailand offers bachelor’s as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in English (http://www.au.edu/).
Other universities have international programmes offering English language degrees, such as the Sasin
Graduate Institute of Chulalongkorn University (http://www.chula.ac.th), Thammasat University
(http://interaffairs.tu.ac.th/), Webster University Thailand (http://www.webster.edu/thailand) and SchillerStamford International College (http://www.stamford.edu).
C. Transport
1.
Air travel
The most convenient means of travelling to Thailand is by air. International carriers serve
Bangkok direct from Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States. The Suvarnabhumi Airport is about
30 kilometres from the centre of Bangkok. There are plenty of limousines and taxis carrying passengers
into the city centre, but newcomers should only use designated taxi stands, limousine counters or hotel
shuttle buses. There have been occasional robberies and violence when passengers have engaged
unlicensed taxis.
Transportation from the airport to downtown areas can be as follows:
Type
Airport Limousines
Expenses
Charter rate
Contact point
Limousine Counter, Level 2,
Baggage Hall and Arrival
Hall
Metered Public Taxis
Metered taxi fare plus 50
baht airport surcharge (toll
way fees are additional)
Taxi Stand, Level 2
(Arrivals), in front of
Entrances 3, 4, 7 and 8.
Airport Express Buses
150 Baht per person per
trip, operates from 5.00 am
to midnight
Airport Express Counter,
Level 1, near Entrance 8.
Express Line 150 Baht per
person
Basement Level
Route AE1 Suvarnabhumi – Silom (by
expressway)
Route AE2 Suvarnabhumi – Khao San
Road (by expressway)
Route AE3 Suvarnabhumi – Sukhumvit
– Wireless Road
Route AE4 Suvarnabhumi – Hua
Lampong Railway Station (by
expressway)
Airport Rail Link
19
2.
Roads
The road system in Bangkok has been much improved in recent years with the construction of
elevated highways, but the average Bangkok commuter still spends more than two hours in traffic daily.
Traffic drives on the left and most of the traffic signs are in English as well as Thai. In spite of the daily
traffic jams, nearly all foreigners use a car, not only because there is no adequate mass transportation
system, but also because of the convenience of door-to-door transportation in an air-conditioned, quiet
environment. A Thai driving licence is required, but the office can arrange this if a valid and current
national driving licence is held by the staff member, without the need for a practical driving test. Under
United Nations Staff Rules and according to Thai law third-party risk insurance is compulsory, but it is
recommended that full comprehensive cover be taken out through one of the local car insurance
companies. The agents of these companies come to the United Nations Building. Due to current rising
world oil price, the cost of unleaded petrol (October 2009) fluctuates around 27.00 – 32.00 baht a litre.
An extensive network (40,000 kilometres) of good highways exists throughout the country. Care
needs to be taken when driving in Thailand. Truck drivers work on a commission basis so they
frequently take amphetamines to stay awake and reach their destinations in the shortest possible time.
This leads to very dangerous driving. Thai law stipulates that motorcyclists wear safety helmets. Staff
members with teenage children should insist that their children wear safety helmets when renting motor
cycles at beach resorts, as fatal accidents have occurred, or when riding pillion on a motorcycle taxi in
Bangkok. Pedestrians should be aware that they have very few rights in Thailand. Motorists will not
stop for people on a pedestrian crossing.
3.
Bus transportation
Travel by bus, although very cheap, is not easy for foreigners as buses are over-crowded,
unpredictable and routes are difficult to understand. However, there is a detailed bus map, the Bangkok
Bus Map published by the Bangkok Guide Company, which is invaluable for getting around the capital.
There are air-conditioned as well as non air-conditioned buses.
4.
Taxis
Metered taxis are plentiful in Bangkok and are distinguishable by their yellow number plates and
roof-mounted taximeter signs. They are not expensive. Until newcomers have learned some rudiments
of the language, it is helpful to have one’s destination written down in Thai. There is also the noisy,
inexpensive three-wheeler “tuk tuk”, not recommended for long journeys. These are not metered and it
is important to negotiate the fare in advance and usually in the Thai language. There are motorcycle
taxis that mostly operate in the small side streets and inexpensive canal and river taxis. Care should be
taken when getting on and off the canal taxis.
5.
Railways
Bangkok’s BTS “skytrain” and MRT “subway” are quick, efficient and air-conditioned means of
travel, high above or way below the traffic. They are useful for the centre of the city, but the network
has yet to be extended to suburban areas nor is there a station near the United Nations building.
Passengers can conveniently connect from the skytrain to the underground or vice versa at interchange
stations, separate fares and fare cards are required, since the two operations are run by separate
organizations.
A railway system connects the major regions of the country and is linked to the railway system in
Malaysia. Although slow, there are air-conditioned carriages and it is certainly safer than travelling by
bus.
6.
Boats
River boats can be the quickest way around Bangkok and are also very cheap. For example, a trip
from the Grand Palace to the Silom district could take over an hour by taxi whereas a boat ride will only
take 15 or 20 minutes. The fares vary slight according to the destination but currently cost only between
15 and 30 baht.
The river boats go up and down the Chao Phraya river, and there are around 20 main stops. They
are usually coloured white with a red stripe. Boats come every 20 minutes, starting at 5.30 in the morning
with the last boat leaving each end at 6 in the evening.
20
D. Health
Despite modernization, Thailand still has a fair share of tropical diseases, and in addition lifestyle
illnesses and modern pandemics are taking their toll. Some common health risks include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Accidents, particularly traffic, machine and building
Gastro-intestinal conditions: diarrhoea from infected water, ice cubes or food and parasite
infestation
Mosquito-borne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, malaria outside Bangkok
Skin infections, rashes, yeast infections
Respiratory problems caused by pollution or air-conditioning, such as asthma
Rabies from animal bites (there is a large stray dog population in Bangkok)
Snake bites, jellyfish stings, sea urchin poisoning, insect bites
Worm infestations
Over-exposure to the sun and heat cramps/exhaustion/stroke
Hepatitis, A, B and non-A, non-B
Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS
Avian influenza
Precautions
In addition to having the recommended vaccinations, follow high standard of hygiene rules
regarding eating, drinking and hand washing:
(a)
Do not drink water from a tap, only boiled or bottled water (preferably bottles that can be recycled). If in doubt request Chinese tea or a soft drink, avoid ice cubes and crushed ice. Make sure you
drink enough, some experts recommend at least one litre a day;
(b)
Fish, seafood, meats (especially chicken and pork) and egg should be well cooked;
(c)
Fresh vegetables and fruit should be washed thoroughly or peeled where possible to avoid
contamination and insecticides;
(d)
Avoid unnecessary contact with live fowl by staying away from markets where live chickens and
ducks are sold;
(e)
Search and destroy breeding grounds for mosquitoes, such as water urns, old tires, discarded cans;
ensure that living quarters are screened, apply mosquito repellant if outside at night;
(f)
Take frequent showers and wear proper shoes in the garden;
(g)
Use suntan lotions and wear good sunglasses that filter out ultraviolet radiation;
(h)
Do not approach or pet stray dogs;
(i)
Use latex condoms with new partners, double-check that dentists and other medical personnel use
properly sterilized equipment;
(j)
Drive defensively, be particularly careful with motorcycles, wear a seatbelt and do not drink and
drive;
(k)
Troublemakers occasionally frequent certain cocktail lounges, pubs and bars. Brawls occur and
guns can be drawn.
Care in what you eat and drink is the most important health rule. The United Nations Medical
Service is happy to provide any further information. United Nations staff members are strongly advised
to enrol in one of the following medical plans: Van Breda for international coverage or Blue Cross,
Aetna, GHI Dental for coverage in the United States.
E. Shopping
All large hotels and many of the larger shops and restaurants accept major credit cards. Fixed
prices are the norm in department stores, which are open seven days a week. Clothing is readily
available, ranging from the inexpensive to very expensive designer imports. Tailoring costs are very
reasonable. At most other places bargaining is expected; the original price can be lowered by 10 to 40
per cent, depending on your negotiating skills and the vendor’s perception of your familiarity with
Thailand. The Weekend Market at Chatujak is a cornucopia of inexpensive items, ranging from clothes,
antiques, food, tapes, handicrafts, furniture, plants, to pets. Other street markets, such as Sampeng Lane,
Khao San Road, Bobae Market and Towers, are well worth a visit.
21
The consumer movement is in its infancy in Thailand, so when making purchases the buyer
should operate under the Buyer Beware policy. Refunds are rare. In addition, foreigners should be
aware of the many gem scams that abound in Bangkok. Do not go with any personable individual you
may meet in the street to a jewellery shop, whatever blandishments they may offer. First, the
blandishments are a confidence trick; second, the individual is on a sales commission; and third, the
goods you might buy are probably fake.
Food
A wide variety of foodstuffs are sold in fresh markets and supermarkets in central Bangkok,
while in the suburbs the choice can be more limited. Supermarkets, such Villa Supermarkets, Emporium
Department Store Supermarket, Foodland and Tops Supermarket, cater for expatriates and are stocked
with goods from Australia, Europe and the United States. Dairy products, baby food and tinned products
are only sold in the supermarkets. Beef, pork and poultry are readily available. Imported beef and lamb
are available in certain supermarkets and the prices may be quite high. Compared with other countries,
there is excellent fish and seafood and a great variety of fruit such as mango, mangosteen, rambutan,
papaya, pineapple and lychee. Many types of European vegetables are grown locally. Fruits and
vegetables should be carefully washed and peeled before consuming since pesticide residues and other
contaminants are common. Imported brands of liquor and wines are available, but at a high price. The
duty-free shipments available to internationally-recruited staff members every six months offer better
value. Local beer is good, as is the local rice whisky.
F. Recreation and entertainment
There are many restaurants and hotels in Bangkok offering Thai, Chinese and Western gourmet
food in surroundings varying from luxurious to spartan. Tasty snacks are available from street vendors,
but caution needs to be exercised because of poor hygiene standards. There is a wide range of prices and
restaurants specializing in Italian, French, German, Japanese, Indian, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese,
Middle Eastern and Mexican cooking. There is a very varied night life catering to all possible tastes.
Tipping was not the usual practice in Thailand, but small tips are becoming more common, for example,
in restaurant car parks (10-20 baht), beauty salons (20-100 baht), and taxis (round up to the nearest 10
baht). Most hotels and restaurants add a 10 per cent service charge, and a 7 per cent value added tax,
adding anything else is optional.
There are only a few public parks in the centre of the city and these are crowded at weekends
with joggers, footballers, strollers and others in search of physical fitness. However, there is an
increasing number of physical fitness centres and gyms, many hotels offering discounts on gym
subscriptions. Local tennis courts and coaches are available at reasonable cost.
In addition to the six local Thai television channels, there is a company (True Vision) offering
satellite services, which include BBC World, CNN, HBO, Star Movies, Hallmark, Animal Planet,
Discovery, MTV, Star Sports, NHK and TV5. VCDs and DVDs are easily bought and a wide range of
videos and DVDs can be rented. There are a number of daily newspapers in Thai, Chinese and English.
Entertainment consumer durables, including computers, are readily available.
Bangkok has its own symphony orchestra and various theatre groups that give regular
performances. For music lovers there is the Bangkok Music Society and for theatre lovers there is the
Bangkok Community Theatre. The Alliance Française, the British Council, the Japan Foundation and the
Thai-German Cultural Foundation (known as the Goethe Institut) offer films, concerts and other
activities. There are visiting orchestras and ballet companies that give performances. Occasionally
various internationally famous rock bands/pop groups also visit Bangkok. Mainly American movies are
available at cinemas at reasonable prices. A listing of all cultural events, including art exhibitions, is
http://www.thaimyway.com,
given
in
the
following
web
sites:
http://www.culture.go.th/culture_en/index.php . The AUA Library, the British Council and the Neilson
Hays Library provide library services.
Several amusement parks are located on Bangkok’s outskirts, complete with roller coasters, fun
rides, shooting galleries and ice cream stalls to keep young visitors cheerfully occupied. There is a zoo
in the centre of Bangkok.
Outside Bangkok, there are many physical sports and activities to be enjoyed. At the seaside,
there is paragliding, diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and sea canoeing. The north offers trekking and
22
river excursions, among other diversions.
All are reasonably priced.
The Siam Society
(http://www.siam-society.org) organizes many interesting trips in Thailand and other regional countries.
There are many cultural attractions in Thailand: palaces, museums, temples, monuments.
Information can be found on the web site of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (http://www.tat.or.th).
However, tourists should use caution in all border areas as owing to the operations of pirates, bandits and
drug traffickers, armed confrontations, kidnapping and murders have occasionally taken place.
G. Other useful services
1.
Banks
There are foreign banks in Bangkok, including the Bank of America, Bank of Tokyo, CitiBank,
Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, and many local banks such as
Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank and the Kasikorn Bank. But most of these banks are difficult to
get to during office hours.
The Siam Commercial Bank has a branch in the United Nations Building, on the first floor of the
Service Building. Banking hours are from 0830 to 1530, Monday to Friday. Remittance facilities are
provided by the bank subject to exchange control regulations. United Nations staff may maintain
offshore deposit dollar accounts.
Staff members may bring into Thailand unrestricted amounts of foreign currency, such as
traveller’s cheques, drafts, letters of credit or other banking instruments that may be exchanged for Thai
currency at the prevailing exchange rates. It may be necessary to declare the amount of foreign currency
on arrival to customs at Bangkok International Airport.
2.
Hospitals
There is a Medical Centre on the fourth floor of the Service Building with a full-time medical
doctor and a registered nurse in attendance. They not only provide immediate medical help, but can
prescribe repeat medications and advise on specialists in Bangkok hospitals.
There are several excellent private and public hospitals in Bangkok, some with doctors trained in
the United States and the United Kingdom and therefore English-speaking. Most of the hospitals have
dental units, eye clinics as well as the usual Ear, Nose and Throat departments. Names of hospitals
where the United Nations Medical Service usually refer patients to are: Bumrungrad, Bangkok, BNH,
Mission (Bangkok Adventist), Phya Thai, Samitivej and Vichaiyut. There are some private medical care
centres providing qualified nannies, but most of them do not speak English.
3.
Postal services
Postal services are comprehensive, but occasionally unreliable and vulnerable to theft. Airmail
from Europe takes three to seven days, surface mail six to ten weeks. Airmail from North America takes
five to ten days, surface mail seven to ten weeks. Parcel post is available to nearly all countries. All
incoming packages are subject to customs inspection so it is important to register articles of value. This
is also advisable to avoid theft. There is a Thai post office in the United Nations Building, which is open
from 0800 to 1600 hours. Overseas telephone calls and fax transmissions can be made at the post office
at government-regulated charge rates. For official purposes only, there are United Nations pouch
services twice weekly to New York and weekly to Geneva, Rome and Vienna and some countries in the
region.
There is a home mail delivery service in Bangkok, but it is recommended that the office address
be used for personal mail.
4.
Communications
Thailand has an international telephone service through satellites, with excellent connections
worldwide. However, the Bangkok telephone network is overloaded and misconnections are common,
hence the phenomenal increase in mobile phones. Long-distance and overseas calls are relatively
expensive. Internet-based phone services and phone cards are becoming increasingly popular although
the quality varies.
23
5.
Domestic services
Domestic help is still available and common in Bangkok. Houses and most apartments have
servants’ quarters.
Household help can be found through reputable agencies, or through
recommendations from colleagues. Standards of English (and other languages), competence and honesty
vary considerably, so it is important to check references, to ask for copies of ID cards, to pay for a
medical examination and to have a month’s trial period.
Wages for full-time positions range from Baht 10,000 to 20,000 with accommodation and three
meals. For part-time positions, the rates range from Baht 500 to Baht 1,000 for four hours.
Internationally recruited staff may be entitled to sponsor one household help from his/her home
country depending on the family situation. For further information, please contact the Human Resources
Management Section and Protocol Office at the following email address: [email protected] or at fax
no. 662-288-1045.
6.
Religious services
The main places of worship are:
Catholic:
Assumption Cathedral, 23 Oriental Lane, Charoen Krung Road
Holy Redeemer Church, 123/19 Soi Ruam Rudee, Ploenchit Road
Muslim:
Haroon Mosque, Charoen Krung Road (near the General Post Office)
Darool Aman Mosque, Petchburi Road (near Rajthewi Circle)
Masjid Jamiul Khoyriya, Banthadathong Road
Rajathewee District (nearest to ESCAP)
Jewish:
Jewish Association of Thailand, 121/3 Soi 22, Sukhumvit Road
Episcopalian/Anglican:
Christ Church, 11 Convent Road
Protestant:
Calvary Baptist Church, 88 Soi 2, Sukhumvit Road
International Church, Soi 19, Sukhumvit Road
Seventh Day Adventist:
Bangkok Ekamai Church, 57 Soi Charoenchai, Ekamai Rd.
Bangkok Chinese Church:
1325 Rama IV Road
24
V.
OFFICE LIFE
A. Your first day
We have included the following checklist to guide you through your first day. The list is not
exhaustive and in some instances will include steps you may not have to take depending on your
contractual status.
Office
1. Human Resources
Management Section,
Staff Administration
Unit
Secretariat Building,
14th Floor, Block A
Task
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2. Protocol Office
Secretariat Building,
14th Floor, Block A
3. Security and
Safety Section
Secretariat Building,
1st Floor, Block B
3. Information
Management ,
Communications &
Technology Section
Services Building, 2nd
Floor,
4. Financial Services
Section
Secretariat Building,
14thFloor, Block B
Contact
Human Resources
Check-in Induction List
Assistant
Complete of induction papers
Payment of assignment grant
Participation in the Health and Life Insurance
Plans
Submission of F.10 claim for reimbursement of
travel expenses and other related expenses
Request for certificate of employment for banks
purposes
Receive briefing on various matters from different
offices in Administrative Services Division
Receive briefing on allowances and benefits of
staff members
• Receive briefing with Protocol Office on
diplomatic privileges and immunities and visa
requirements
• Complete stay permit and re-entry visa form (two
2”x2” photographs required)
Extension
1973
Visa Assistant
1227
Security Officer
1196
• Receiving briefing on and register for computer
facilities at ESCAP
Information
Management,
Communications &
Technology Section
2490
• Salary distribution
• Payroll instruction
Accounting
Assistant
1263
Note: Driving license (two 1”x1” photographs
required) and Thai government ID card (two 2”x2”
photographs required) may be requested after
obtaining stay permit and re-entry visa
approximately one month after arrival
• Provide address
• Get grounds pass
Important: It is advisable that a local currency
and/or a foreign currency accounts be opened on the
day of arrival before meeting staff of the Financial
Services Section as banking information is required
on the salary distribution form. Staff member’s
passport, which will be required for opening bank
accounts, may not be available for approximately a
month after the request for stay permit and re-entry
visa is submitted for processing with the Thai
Immigration authorities.
25
B. Your first week
In your first week during lunch breaks or at convenient times you may wish to familiarize
yourself with the following:
1.
Catering services
(a)
(d)
(e)
Cafeteria, level 1 Conference Centre, serving Western, vegetarian and Thai food
lunch : 1130 – 1400
Canteen, Ground Floor, Service Building, 0630 – 1400, serving only Thai food
Snack bar, level 1, Conference Centre, serving sandwiches, pastries, tea/coffee and soft drinks
0630 – 1600
Coffee Lounge, Ground Floor, Conference Centre, 0630 - 1600
Coffee ladies, Second, Seventh, Ninth Floor, Secretariat Building
2.
Garage facilities
(b)
(c)
Garage parking is provided for staff members once you have registered the vehicle and obtained a
decal from the Security and Safety Section. You will need the following forms:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
A photocopy of the vehicle registration
A photocopy of the staff member’s driving license
A photocopy of insurance coverage (compulsory)
A photocopy of comprehensive or third party insurance (optional)
If a driver is to be employed by the staff member, the driver must obtain an ID card from the
Security and Safety Section. A photocopy of the staff member’s ID card will be required.
If these documents are not available to you, the Security and Safety Section may issue a
temporary decal, valid for one month.
There is underground parking for staff members at the following costs:
a) First-come first-served:
b) Reserve Parking *:
Baht 100 / month
Baht 350 / month
* Staff members interested in applying for a reserve parking space must submit a written request
to the Security and Safety Section. If no reserve spaces are available at time of application, the
staff member’s name will be placed on waiting list.
3.
Library services
The UNESCAP Library is located on the first floor of the Service Building. It is open from 07:30
until 16:30 each working day.
ESCAP staff members are invited to use library resources and services by visiting the Library, or
via the Library's iSeek (http://iseek.un.org/m210.asp?dept=972) or Internet page
(www.unescap.org/library).
The UNESCAP Library is a specialized collection of United Nations and ESCAP official
documents and publications, as well as books, journals and audio visual materials related to economic and
social development in Asia and the Pacific. The Library also provides access to a comprehensive
collection of electronic resources, including commercial databases and full-text electronic journals and
books in a wide variety of subject areas.
Staff members of the UN are invited to arrange appointments for comprehensive briefings on the
library resources and services by calling ext. 1360 or by e-mail: [email protected].
4.
Medical services
First aid and inoculations are available at the UN ESCAP Medical Service on the fourth floor of
the Service Building. The Service is staffed with a full-time medical doctor and a registered nurse.
26
Official travel outside Thailand will require up-to-date health certificates. Inoculations and certificates
are provided by the Medical Service. Hours are from 0730 to 1545 with a 45-minute lunch break from
1200 to 1245. Staff is encouraged to make an appointment prior to seeking medical consultations for
non-urgent cases by email: [email protected] or calling (02) 288 1761/1352.
5.
Travel agency
There is a travel agent located on the first floor of the Service Building. It arranges official and
personal travel.
6.
Mutual Assistance Fund
The Mutual Assistance Fund provides facilities for savings and loans to its members. The loan
rate (June 2009) for members, after buying a 1,000 baht share, is approximately 3.5 per cent. For further
information, contact the MAF office on the fourth floor of the Service Building.
7.
Bulletin Boards
Bulletin Boards are located throughout the Secretariat and Service Buildings. They include
details of events to be held by ESCAP, a listing of internal and external employment opportunities and
goods or vehicles for sale by staff members. You can access the electronic bulletin boards through the
email program, which will be installed on your office computer. These are very useful as they include
guidelines on preparing documents, guidelines on personnel matters and all manner of material from
New York. A visit to the Strategic Communications and Advocacy Section (SCAS) on the ground floor
of the secretariat lobby is also useful.
C. Your first pay
Salaries are paid monthly on the day before the last working day of the month. Gross base salary
will be subject to United Nations staff assessment, equivalent to an income tax, and withheld at source.
Salaries can be paid in two currencies. Salary may be deposited into up to three bank accounts, i.e. a
Thai baht account at the Siam Commercial Bank, plus a US dollar account at the Siam Commercial
Bank, plus a US dollar account at any bank. Many staff members find it convenient to have a certain
proportion of the salary paid in baht so that local expenses can be paid without exchanging foreign
currency. Other staff members have all their salary paid in dollars and use the ATM machines to
withdraw Thai baht. ATM cards that are CIRRUS compatible can be used with CIRRUS machines,
which often provide satisfactory exchange rates. However, many ATM machines are not compatible.
The necessary instructions on how the salary should be paid need to be given to Financial Services
Section.
For information on salaries and related allowances/benefits, please refer to Annex IV.
D. Miscellaneous
1.
Working hours
There is a five-day work week, Monday to Friday, with staggered working hours. Staff members
may request to start work between 0645 and 0900 hours and may leave between 1500 and 1715 hours,
bearing in mind that the core hours are from 0900 to 1500, and provided that the total working hours per
day equal seven hours and a half, excluding the 45-minute lunch break.
2.
Number of staff
Currently there are 611 staff members working for ESCAP, of which 544 work in Bangkok (as of
28 November 2011).
3.
Office temperature
The office is air-conditioned and the temperature is maintained at 21 to 25.5 degrees Celsius (70 to
78 degrees Fahrenheit), occasionally warranting the use of a jacket or sweater. During meetings in the
Conference Centre a jacket is usually worn.
27
4.
Telephone
For internal connections, simply dial the number of the extension you require. If you wish to
speak to the operator, dial “0”. For an outside line, dial “9”, and wait for the dial tone; then dial the
number required.
5.
Staff Association
All staff members of ESCAP and its associated offices, including personnel employed on a nonreimbursable loan basis, are ipso facto members of the Association. However, only subscribing members
are eligible to vote in elections or stand for election. The Staff Association elects on biennial basis the
Staff Council, consisting of 10 members, to organize and coordinate various activities of the Association
including various sporting and cultural activities. Currently, the Staff Council has established 11
Committees to assist the Council in these staff-related activities. Major activities of the Staff Association
are reported on its site in ESCAP’s bulletin board and on its Webpage of ESCAP internal intranet:
P:\Intranet\Staff Council\Welcome.html. The Staff Association office is located in the ground floor of the
Secretariat Building, Block B.
6.
Language classes
Staff members can enrol in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish language
classes (beginner, intermediate and advanced), depending on demand. Details can be obtained from the
Organizational Development and Staffing Unit, Human Resources Management Section, located on the
14th floor of the Secretariat Building. If enough students show interest, Thai classes can also be
arranged on a paying basis.
7.
United Nations group life insurance plan
Staff members are eligible to join if they have a letter of appointment for six months or more.
Details are available in the document ST/IC/2002/63 and ST/IC/2002/63 Amend.1 on the electronic
bulletin board.
8.
Dress code
There is no written dress code, but men do wear suits for meetings and usually a shirt and tie in
the office. Thai ladies dress very well, elegant and coordinated, and this does have an effect on other
women in the office. Casual clothes are not worn in the office.
9.
Security and Safety Section
The Security and Safety Section responds to calls for assistance from staff members on a 24hour basis. Staff may call the Security Control Room emergency line on 0-2288-1102 or 0-2288-1100 at
any time during day or night and a United Nations Security Officer will be assigned to provide assistance
as required.
Staff are advised to report all incidents of a security related in nature, such as petty crime, house
break-in, street robberies, to the Security Control Room for assistance and advice.
Upon arrival, staff members are to ensure they make arrangements with the Security Plan
Officer, on 0-2288-2454 for an in-depth security briefing. The briefing will cover the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
10.
ESCAP Building Facilities
Access Control procedures
Security Awareness
Security Plan
Security Clearance
Building Fire Drill procedures
Reporting of Incidents
Security Tips
United Nations Women’s Club
For wives of staff members, there is a United Nations Women’s Club, which organizes various
activities. It can be reached at the following address: c/o UNDP, P.O. Box 618, Bangkok 10200.
28
11.
United Nations Local Expatriate Spouse Association (UN LESA)
UN LESA in Bangkok is an organization of United Nations spouses and partners assisting newly
arrived families to Thailand. The aims of UN LESA in Bangkok are twofold. Firstly, it offers an avenue
for new arrivals to expand their social network and meet other partners and spouses of the United
Nations employees. Secondly, it also offers help and guidance on career opportunities within the United
Nations system for those interested.
One can contact UN LESA at [email protected], or on facebook
www.facebook.com/unlesabangkok.
CONCLUSION
After the rather dry administrative details, here is a quote from a staff member after living in
Bangkok for one year:
“Living in Bangkok is very different from living in other countries. Here you can do all sorts
of things that you couldn’t afford elsewhere: live in a house or fairly decent apartment with maid
service, run an imported car, take tennis or singing lessons, have regular massages (even in your own
home), indulge in beauty treatments, enjoy quality dining, shop at great stores or street markets, go
away to a tropical resort for the weekend, and after all that still manage to have some savings!”
29
VI. USEFUL REFERENCES
Basic data
Address of the ESCAP secretariat:
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
United Nations Building
Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200
Thailand
Telephone: (662) 2881234
Facsimile: (662) 2881000
Home page: http://www.unescap.org
Please refer to attached map of Bangkok (Annex VI) for the location of the United Nations
Building where ESCAP is housed. You may also wish to refer to Annex VII for the layout of the
buildings within the ESCAP compound.
Web sites
http://www.unescap.org (ESCAP web site)
http://www.un.org (United Nations web site)
http://www.tat.or.th/ (Tourism Authority of Thailand web site)
http://www.ethailand.com
http:///www.mahidol.ac.th/thailand
http://www.lonelyplanet.com
http://www.asiatravel.com/
This offers information on palaces, museums, temples, zoos and farms, the
arts, libraries, monuments, shopping, parks etc.
http://www.travelthailand.net/CSB The web site for Community Services of Bangkok
http://www.who.int/ith/english/index.htm (WHO web site)
http://www.scb.co.th (Siam Commercial Bank)
http://www.thaimyway.com (A listing of cultural events in Bangkok)
http://www.siam-hotel.com (One of many web sites offering information on hotels)
http://www.nationmultimedia.com (An English-language newspaper in Bangkok)
http://bangkokpost.com (An English-language newspaper in Bangkok)
http://www.isat.or.th
(International Schools Association of Thailand)
http://www.truevisionstv.com/ (satellite television company)
http://www.jfbkk.or.th
http://www.alliance-francaise.or.th
http://www.britishemb.or.th/html/bcouncil.html
http://www.goethe.de/bangkok
Bookshops: Asia Books – it has many branches in shopping malls, but the main one is 221 Sukhumvit
Road at Soi 15.
Community Services of Bangkok – provides various types of assistance as a public service to the
expatriate community; telephone: (662) 258 4998, 258 5652; email: [email protected]
Nancy Chandler’s Map of Bangkok - information on out-of-the way places.
Tourism Authority of Thailand - the corner of Chakkraphatdiphong Road and Ratchadamnoen Nok
Avenue, almost opposite ESCAP. It has lists of hotels in all the regions of Thailand.
Tourist Police: telephone 1699
Tourist Service Centre: telephone 1155
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Annex I
Shipping entitlements
Note : If the packing company cannot provide a weight or volume figure in net terms, i.e., inclusive only of
packing, as well as gross terms, i.e., inclusive also of crating and lift vans, the net weight or volume shall be
determined on the basis of two thirds of the gross weight or volume of the shipment. The Organization shall
in no case recognize any difference between gross and net weight or volume that exceeds one third of the
gross weight or volume. Should the crating exceed one third of the gross weight or volume, the difference
shall be considered as part of the net shipment.
Category 1: Holders of contracts for at least one year (but less than two years)
Staff members under this category are entitled to unaccompanied shipment of personal effects and
household goods. Under this arrangement you have a further option to:
(a)
Have the shipment arranged by the United Nations on a door-to-door basis, by the most
economical means as determined by the Secretary-General, through the shipping company authorized by
the United Nations. The entitlement expressed in net weight and volume basis which includes packing
materials, but excludes exterior cases and liftvans, is as follows:
1,000 kg (2,200 lb) or 6.23 cubic meters (220 cubic feet) for staff member;
500 kg (1,100 lb) or 3.11 cubic meters (110 cubic feet) for the first family member; and
300 kg (660 lb) or 1.87 cubic meters (66 cubic feet) for each additional family member
Where surface transportation of your shipment within your entitlement is the most economical means of
transport, such shipment may be converted to air shipment on the basis of one half of the weight or
volume of the authorized surface entitlement. A portion of up to 10% of the surface entitlement may be
converted to air freight on the basis of full weight or volume and shipped as an advanced shipment. For
example, if your surface entitlement is 1,000 kg, you may ship up to 100 kg by air freight as advanced
shipment. The remaining entitlement of 900 kg can be shipped by surface or half of this amount which is
450 kg by air freight. When availing oneself of the advanced shipment, the staff member may still
request split shipments, as described in page 12 under Exception: Split shipments.
(b)
Receive a relocation grant. By opting for the relocation grant, you agree to waive the entitlement
to unaccompanied shipment that would otherwise apply. You will receive a relocation grant payable
upon entry on duty of US$10,000 for a single staff member or US$15,000 for a staff member with
eligible family members, provided at least one eligible family member travels to the duty station at the
United Nations expense. The relocation grant shall not be available on a partial basis or subject to
adjustment afterwards. No proof on how the relocation grant is used is required. Its use is at your own
discretion, in any manner deemed best to facilitate your relocation. The Organization is not responsible
for any delays in the arrival of personal effects or household goods or additional expenses that may be
incurred or liabilities that arise as a result of opting for the relocation grant. It is your responsibility to
take out appropriate insurance. The Organization will continue assist you in facilitating customs
clearance and applicable import/export procedures.
In addition to your option either (a) or (b), you will receive a payment of non-removal allowance
(in the amount mentioned in the offer of appointment), payable on a monthly basis, for a maximum period
of five years.
Category 2: Holders of contracts of two years or more
Staff members under this category have two options:
(a)
Full removal of personal effects and household goods as follows (including packing materials but
excluding cases, crates and liftvans):
4,890 kg (10,800 lb) or 30.58 cubic meters (1,080 cubic feet) for a staff member without a
spouse or dependent children;
8,150 kg (18,000 lb) or 50.97 cubic meters (1,800 cubic feet) for a staff member with a spouse
or dependent children
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Note: When availing oneself of the “full removal” entitlement, the staff member may also be
authorized to have an advanced removal of personal effects and household goods which
should be made in a single consignment (the actual weight and volume shipped by surface will
be deducted from the full removal entitlement). The maximum entitlement that could be
taken as advanced removal (including weight or volume for packing but excluding crating and
liftvans) is as follows:
450 kg (990 lb) or 2.80 cubic meters (99 cubic feet) for the staff member.
300 kg (660 lb) or 1.87 cubic meters (66 cubic feet) for the first family member.
150 kg (330 lb) or 0.93 cubic meters (33 cubic feet) for each additional family member.
If the staff member prefers, he/she may forward an advanced removal by airfreight on the
basis of the one-half rule. For example, if the advanced removal entitlement is 750 kg (staff
member and one additional family member) up to 375 kg may be shipped by airfreight. The
750 kg will still be the amount deducted from the overall entitlement. Any costs over and
above the entitlement will have to be borne by the staff member.
(b)
Unaccompanied shipment of personal effects and household goods. Please refer to category 1 for
details.
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Annex II
Restricted occupations for aliens
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Labour
Work in agriculture, animal breeding, forestry, fishery or general farm supervision
Masonry, carpentry or other construction work
Wood carving
Driving motor vehicles or non-motorized carriers, except for piloting international aircraft
Shop attendant
Auctioning
Supervising, auditing or services in accounting, except occasional international auditing
Gem cutting and polishing
Hair cutting, hair dressing and beautician work
Hand weaving
Mat weaving or making wares from reed, rattan, kenaf, straw or bamboo pulp
Manufacture of manual fibrous paper
Manufacture of lacquer ware
Thai musical instrument production
Manufacture of nielloware
Goldsmith, silversmith and other precious metal work
Manufacture of bronze ware
Thai doll making
Manufacture of mattresses and padded blankets
Alms bowl making
Manual silk product making
Buddha image making
Manufacture of knives
Paper and cloth umbrella fabrication
Shoemaking
Hat making
Brokerage or agency work, except in international business
Dressmaking
Pottery or ceramics
Manual cigarette rolling
Legal or litigation work
Clerical or secretarial work
Manual silk reeling and weaving
Thai character type-setting
Hawking business
Tourist guide or tour organizing agency
Architectural work
Civil engineering work
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Annex III
List of temporary accommodation
Standard rooms: daily rate in Thai baht (as of November 2011)
(see www.bangkokpost.com for exchange rate)
Daily Rate (approx.)
Single
Double
Royal Princess Hotel
269 Larn Luang Road, Bangkok
Tel: (662) 2813088, Fax: (662) 2801314
Website: www.dusit.com
2,500
2,700
Prince Palace Hotel
488/800 Bo Bae Tower
Damrongrak Road, Bangkok
Tel: (662) 6281111, Fax: (662) 6281000
Website: www.princepalace.co.th
1,700
1,900
Hotel De’ Moc (former Thai Hotel)
78 Prachatipatai Road, Bangkok
Tel: (662) 2822831, Fax: (662) 2801299
Website: www.hoteldemoc.com
1,200
1,400
Trang Hotel
99/1 Wisutkasat Road
Bangkok 10200
Tel. (662) 2811402-3, 2812141-4 Fax (662) 2803610
Website: www.tranghotelbangkok.com
1,200
Alameda Suites Apartment
No daily rate
27/5 Kra-Om Road
No weekly rate
Pomprab, Bangkok 10100
Monthly rate for ESCAP staff:
Tel: (662) 281 4618 Fax: (662) 281 2608
Email: www.alamedasuites.com
Juldis River Mansion
Daily rate:
Samsen Road, Soi Samsaen 3
Monthly rate for ESCAP staff:
Bangkok 10200
Tel: (662) 281 0776-8 Fax: (662) 281 5661
1,400
15,000 baht
1,000 baht
13,000–15,000 baht
Note: These hotels, Alameda Suites and Juldis River Mansion are within walking distance of the office.
34
Annex IV
Salaries and related allowances/benefits
1.
Salary: Your gross base salary will be subject to United Nations staff assessment which is much
like an income tax. The staff assessment is computed at single or dependency rate as appropriate.
Deduction is made at the dependency rate for a staff member with a dependent spouse or a dependent
child, and at the single rate for a staff member without such dependants. Whether or not your spouse or
child is accorded dependent status will be determined by the United Nations definition of dependency
(see paragraphs 6 and 7 below). It should be noted that the entire staff assessment is withheld at source.
If, in addition to staff assessment, your United Nations emoluments are subject to a national income tax
by the country of your nationality or residence, the United Nations will refund such income tax actually
due on your United Nations emoluments.
2.
Post adjustment: Post adjustment is a non-pensionable amount which is added to the base salary
in order to maintain equity in standards of living at different locations. It is paid at single or dependency
rate, and is not subject to staff assessment. As the amount can vary from month to month, the post
adjustment mentioned is the one applicable during the month in which the offer is made.
3.
Rental subsidy: The purpose of the rental subsidy scheme is to ensure a greater degree of equity
and to alleviate hardships for staff members whose rented accommodations are of reasonable standard but
cost significantly more than the average for the duty station. ESCAP has determined reasonable
maximum rent levels based on family size as below.
Family Size
No. of bedrooms
Maximum rent level*
Staff member alone or with spouse
Plus one child
Plus two children
Plus three or more children
Plus four or more children
(2 bedrooms)
(3 bedrooms)
(4 bedrooms)
(5 bedrooms)
(>5 bedrooms)
Baht 75,000
Baht 95,000
Baht 125,000
Baht 130,000
Baht 140,000
*Please note that this is not the amount ESCAP will pay. Under the scheme, ESCAP will reimburse
80% of the rent in excess of a threshold amount. (The threshold amount is calculated as a percentage of
the net salary. It will, therefore vary according to the level of the staff). In addition, the portion of rent
which exceeds the reasonable maximum levels is the staff member's own responsibility.
The rental subsidy is not payable during the first 30 days after arrival as the staff member will be
receiving a daily subsistence allowance.
4.
Rental deductions: If you receive housing assistance, including housing provided by the United
Nations, by a government or by a related institution, either free of charge or at rents substantially lower
than the average residential rents, you may be subject to payroll deductions from your salary. The
deduction will be calculated at 80 per cent of the difference between your actual rent and 64 per cent of
the individual threshold which would be applicable for rental subsidy purposes.
5.
Following your arrival in Bangkok, you will be required to report whether you receive housing
assistance. Failure to comply with this reporting requirement, will result in automatic rental deductions
through payroll as if you had obtained accommodation free of charge from the Organization, a
government or a related institution. For more detailed information, please refer to Sections III and IV of
ST/AI/275/Rev.2.
6.
Dependency allowance: The United Nations determines dependency status based on its own
internal guidelines. A staff member with a dependent spouse or child receives a base salary and post
adjustment at the dependent rate. A dependent child is under 18 years old or, if he/she is in full-time
attendance at a school or university, must be under the age of 21 years, for whom the staff member
provides main and continuing support. A dependent spouse is one whose occupational earnings, if any, do
not exceed the current lowest entry level of the General Service gross salary scales in New York,
(US$ 40,809 gross per annum as of 1 March 2011).
35
7.
For other recognized dependants, dependency allowances are paid at the following rates:
For each dependent child other than the first dependent child of a staff member without
a dependent spouse * .............. $2,929 net per annum
Where there is no dependent spouse; for one secondary dependant, i.e., dependent
parent, brother or sister ..................…..$1,025 net per annum
* No allowance is payable for the first dependent child of a staff member without a dependent spouse, as
such staff member is entitled to receive base salary and post adjustment at the dependent rate.
Dependency allowance in the case of a disabled child may be double the amount of the regular allowance
for a dependent child. A disabled child is one who is determined to be physically or mentally disabled
either permanently or for a period expected to be of a long duration. Please refer to document
ST/AI/2000/8, ST/AI/2000/8/Amend.1 and ST/AI/2000/8/Amend.2. If the staff member or his or her
spouse receives similar benefits under national laws, the dependency allowances for children are reduced
proportionally in order to avoid duplication of benefits and to achieve equality among staff members. For
further details, you may refer to the status report and request for payment of dependency benefits (Form
P.84).
8.
Education grant: If your duty station is outside your home country, an education grant may be
paid under certain conditions for each child in full-time attendance at a school, university or similar
educational institution. The amount of the grant per scholastic year for each child will be 75 per cent of
the cost of attendance and board in respect of actual expenses up to a maximum of $15,668 per year, with
a maximum reimbursement of $15,497. If board is not provided by the educational institution, a grant of
up to $3,746 is payable for board; the total grant for attendance and board, however, cannot exceed
$15,497. If your child attends an educational institution within commuting distance from the duty station,
the cost of board is excluded in computing the amount of the grant.
9.
The grant is not payable if your child attends a free school. For post-secondary education, the
grant is payable up to the fourth year of studies or the award of the first degree, whichever is earlier, but it
will not normally be payable beyond the school year in which the child reaches the age of twenty-five.
You may refer to Administrative Instruction ST/IC/2009/13 for further details on the education grant and
related travel provisions.
10.
A special education grant for disabled children is available to all categories of staff who have an
appointment for one year or longer. The amount of this grant shall be the equivalent of the educational
expenses actually incurred up to a maximum of $15,497. Where both the regular education grant and the
special education grant are payable, the total for the two grants shall not exceed $15,497 per year.
11.
Assignment grant: If your travel to the duty station was authorized by the United Nations for an
appointment expected to last one year or more, you are entitled to an assignment grant. The purpose of an
assignment grant is to compensate for the initial extraordinary costs incurred on moving to a new
location, as well as the pre-departure expenses associated with relocation. In most cases of assignment or
reassignment, the grant consists of a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) portion and a lump sum
portion, both payable on arrival at the duty station. However, on an initial appointment of two years or
more to a category H duty station, of which New York is one, instead of the lump sum portion you may
be entitled to reimbursement of the costs of removal of personal effects and household goods as detailed
in paragraphs below.
12.
The DSA portion of the assignment grant consists of 30 days DSA in respect of the staff member,
at the rate established for the duty station, and 30-day DSA at half rate for each eligible family member.
Payment in respect of family members is contingent on their travelling to the duty station at least six
months before the staff member's service there is expected to end. If removal costs are not paid, a lump
sum equivalent to one month's net base salary and post adjustment is payable, whether or not the
dependants travel to the duty station, and in addition, the non-removal element of the mobility and
hardship allowance at the applicable rate. Please refer to documents ST/AI/2007/1 for details.
36
13.
Repatriation grant: On separation from the Organization, a repatriation grant is payable to staff
members who have completed one year or more of service outside their home country, subject to the
submission of evidence of relocation away from the country of the last duty station, and subject to the
fulfillment of the other relevant conditions of the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. The amount of the
grant is based on net salary. For the first year of service, the grant is equivalent to four weeks of
separation payments for staff with a spouse or dependent children and three weeks for staff without a
spouse or dependent children. Thereafter, it accrues at rates proportionate to the length of service, up to a
maximum of twenty-eight weeks for staff with a spouse or dependent children and sixteen weeks for
those without. A detailed schedule is contained in Annex IV to the Staff Regulations.
14.
Non-removal allowance: The non-removal grant is for staff members who have contracts of one
year or more who have opted not to avail of their entitlement to full removal of household effects.
Payment of the non-removal allowance, on a monthly basis, shall be limited to a period of five years at
one duty station (ST/AI/2007/1 refers).
15.
Medical insurance subsidy: All staff members holding appointments of three months or longer
may enrol themselves and eligible family members in the United Nations Vanbreda plan. The United
Nations provides subsidy towards the payment of the premium which is calculated as a percentage of the
net salary.
16.
“Eligible family members” refers to a spouse and one or more eligible children. A spouse is
always eligible. A child is eligible to be covered under this scheme until the end of the calendar year in
which he or she attains the age of 25, provided that he or she is not married and not in full-time
employment. Disabled children may be eligible for continued coverage after age 25. Enrolment in the
Vanbreda plan at the time of initial appointment must be accomplished within 31 days of the date of entry
on duty.
17.
For enrolment purposes, applicants will be required to present proof of eligibility from their
respective personnel or administrative officers attesting to their current contractual status. The enrolment
of eligible family members requires the provision of evidence of the status of such family members. In
most instances, the necessary proof of eligibility will be contained in the personnel action form.
Pension Fund
18.
Staff members holding appointments for six months or longer become participants in the United
Nations Joint Staff Pension fund on appointment. Service prior to the commencement of participation
performed with the United Nations or with any other member organization of the Pension Fund may be
made pensionable under certain conditions, within the time limit of one year after commencement of
participation. Contributions to the Pension Fund are deducted from the pay cheques of participants at the
rate of 7.90 per cent of their pensionable remuneration. The Organization contributes at twice the rate
applicable to participants. Pensionable remuneration is defined in the Regulations of the Funds.
19.
The Fund provides disability, retirement and survivors benefits as well as lump sum withdrawal
settlements. The conditions for entitlement to a benefit, as well as the determination of the amount of the
benefit, are governed by the Regulations of the Fund. Elements for such determination are the length of
contributory service, the amount of the final average remuneration (based on the best 36 months of
pensionable remuneration during the last five years of contributory service), the applicable rate of benefit
accumulation per year of contributory service and the age on separation. Survivors benefits are paid to
spouses and children who fall within the definitions outlined in the Regulations. All benefits paid
periodically are adjusted for cost-of-living changes in accordance with the provisions of the Fund's
Pension Adjustment System.
20.
Participants who leave the Organization after service of less than five years are reimbursed their
contributions to the Fund with interest, unless they are eligible for a disability benefit. Staff members
may elect to maintain continuity of their pension rights if they come from, enter or return to the service of
any of the international organizations or governments with which the Fund has concluded a transfer
agreement. There is no reimbursement of taxes paid on periodic benefits. Staff members appointed after
1979 are not entitled to reimbursement of income tax paid on lump sums received from the Pension Fund.
21.
The Secretary of the United Nations Staff Pension Committee should be contacted directly for
further information regarding any matter affecting participation in the Pension Fund and the obligations
and entitlements deriving therefrom during such participation and upon separation.
37
Leave
22.
Annual leave: Annual leave accrues at the rate of two and one-half days per month, or 30
working days per cycle (April-March). Annual leave may be taken only when authorized.
23.
Home leave: If you serve the United Nations outside your home country and are otherwise
eligible under the staff Regulations and Staff Rules, you will be entitled once in every two years of
qualifying service to take home leave in the country of your nationality. The place of home leave within
your country is, for purposes of travel and transportation entitlements, the location with which you have
had the closest residential ties during the period of your most recent residence in your home country
preceding appointment. Transportation costs for yourself, your spouse and dependent children are paid
by the United Nations.
24.
Sick leave: A staff member holding an appointment for one year or longer may be granted sick
leave up to three months on full salary and three months on half salary in any twelve consecutive
months. A staff member who holds a permanent appointment, a fixed-term appointment for three years
or who has completed three years of continuous service will be granted sick leave of up to nine months.
The sick leave taken by a staff member can be “uncertified sick leave” of not more than three
consecutive working days at a time, for up to seven working days in an annual cycle starting 1 April of
each year, when incapacitated for the performance of his or her duties by illness or injury. Part or all of
this entitlement may be used to attend to family-related emergencies, in which case the limitation of
three consecutive working days shall not apply.
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Annex V
39
Annex VI
Map of Bangkok
Annex VII
The location and layout of the buildings within the ESCAP compound
The three buildings within the compound are:
a.
The Secretariat Building;
b.
The Service Building; and
c.
The United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC).
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