FSD 55 - Post living allowance

Introduction

To assist employees at missions where the cost of living is higher than in Ottawa/Gatineau, the employer provides a non-accountable allowance to compensate for the higher costs of purchasing goods and services at post.

Directive 55

55.01 The deputy head shall authorize a Post Living Allowance (PLA) for each employee serving at a post for which the Post Index is greater than 100, in accordance with the appendix to this directive, where:

(a) employees shall be compensated for the actual % of salary spent at post, calculated on the basis of their nominal salary, and reflecting the Post Index adjustment;

(b) nominal salary is the mid-point of an employee's salary band, as shown in the appendix to this directive; and

(c) the Post Index expresses the price differential between the post and Ottawa, as reported to the deputy head on a monthly basis by Statistics Canada.

Instructions

1. Effective June 1, 2001, the methodology for the determination of the Post Index has been revised to reflect only those expenditures actually incurred at post for the purchase of goods and services. Expenditures for which provision is made elsewhere in the Foreign Service Directives are specifically excluded, as are those expenses which are incurred in Canada. The revised methodology recognizes that employees at different salary levels spend differing percentages of salary for post-related expenses.

2. Effective June 1, 2009, the methodology for the determination of Post Living Allowance has been revised to include an adjustment to recognize annual inflation, as reflected in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding twelve month period ending December 31st.

3. Post Indices are determined by Statistics Canada on a monthly basis, and:

(a) are published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's website; and

(b) are available on the Statistics Canada website.

55.02 The appendix to this directive shall be revised, in accordance with the methodology agreed to in the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives:

(a) on June 1st of each year, to reflect annual inflation as reported by Statistics Canada, and

(b) on June 1st following the publication of the results of Statistics Canada's Survey of Household Spending (SHS) conducted on a four-year cycle.

General

55.03 Except where otherwise provided, the PLA shall commence on the first compensation day following the employee's arrival at a post and shall cease on the first compensation day following the employee's final departure from that post.

Instructions

1. For purposes of Section 55.03, "the first compensation day following the employee's final departure from that post", means the first compensation day following the employee's last day on duty at that post.

2. The deputy head shall apply the Post Index communicated to the department on a monthly basis by Statistics Canada in accordance with the methodology agreed to in the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives.

55.04 The PLA shall be adjusted to reflect any change in the employee's gross annual salary, including acting pay for the performance of regular duties or for the performance of duties in another position on a temporary basis during an assignment at a post, where such change results in movement to a higher salary band for the purpose of determining the employee's nominal salary.

55.05 Where an unaccompanied employee is absent from the post on temporary duty, under emergency evacuation conditions or on leave with pay, for more than 25 compensation days, the PLA shall cease on the 26th compensation day and shall resume on the first compensation day following the employee's return to the post.

55.06 Where an accompanied employee is absent from the post on temporary duty, under emergency evacuation conditions or on leave with pay, for more than 25 compensation days, the PLA:

(a) shall continue to be paid as long as a dependant remains in the employee's residence at the post with the approval of the deputy head;

(b) shall terminate on the first compensation day following the date of departure of the last of the dependants from the employee's residence at the post, or on the 26th compensation day following the employee's departure, whichever is the later; and

(c) shall resume on the first compensation day following either the return of the employee or of a dependant, with deputy head approval, whichever return date is the earlier.

55.07 Where an employee is transferred from one post to another, the PLA calculated in accordance with Section 55.01 shall continue until the day of the employee's arrival at the new post except, where:

(a) that day is not a compensation day, in which case the PLA shall continue until the last compensation day immediately prior to the day of arrival at the new post; or

(b) 25 compensation days have elapsed since the employee departed the previous post, in which case continuation of the PLA shall be subject to Section 55.03 or 55.04 as applicable.

55.08

(a) A PLA shall be applied by the deputy head on the validity date determined on the basis of statistical information provided on a monthly basis by Statistics Canada.

(b) Changes to the Post Index shall be effective on validity dates as follows:

(i) in the case of changes resulting from a full-scale survey, on the first day of the month next following the month in which Statistics Canada has made its determination;

(ii) in the case of devaluation or revaluation of a currency, on the first day of the month next following such change;

(iii) in the case of revisions resulting from the monthly review of Post Indexes by Statistics Canada, on the first day of the month next following determination of the requirement for revision.

(c) International retail prices and costs surveys which are required to establish Post Indexes for the purpose of this directive are scheduled by Statistics Canada from time to time. Such surveys are to be completed in a timely manner, subject to operational requirements of the Post being surveyed.

55.09 Notwithstanding Section 107 of the Public Service Labour Relations Act, a revision to a Post Index (PI) and resultant change in the PLA shall not constitute a change in terms and conditions of employment for an employee subject to the Foreign Service Directives.

55.10 At posts where exchange rate information may be deficient with respect to the application of Post Index methodology by Statistics Canada, as agreed to in the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives, employees may be required to document the exchange rates received for their purchases of local currency on a monthly basis.

Form

TBC 330-35
Monthly Exchange Rate Report

Appendix
Annual Post Living Allowance

Effective June 1, 2008

Salary range Midpoint/nominal salary Adjustment
30,450 31,449 30,950 0.773
31,450 32,449 31,950 0.757
32,450 33,449 32,950 0.742
33,450 34,449 33,950 0.728
34,450 35,449 34,950 0.715
35,450 36,449 35,950 0.703
36,450 37,449 36,950 0.691
37,450 38,449 37,950 0.680
38,450 39,449 38,950 0.669
39,450 40,449 39,950 0.659
40,450 41,449 40,950 0.649
41,450 42,449 41,950 0.640
42,450 43,449 42,950 0.632
43,450 44,449 43,950 0.623
44,450 45,449 44,950 0.615
45,450 46,449 45,950 0.608
46,450 47,449 46,950 0.600
47,450 48,449 47,950 0.594
48,450 49,449 48,950 0.587
49,450 50,449 49,950 0.580
50,450 51,449 50,950 0.574
51,450 52,449 51,950 0.568
52,450 53,449 52,950 0.563
53,450 54,449 53,950 0.557
54,450 55,449 54,950 0.552
55,450 56,449 55,950 0.547
56,450 57,449 56,950 0.542
57,450 58,449 57,950 0.537
58,450 59,449 58,950 0.533
59,450 60,449 59,950 0.528
60,450 61,449 60,950 0.524
61,450 62,449 61,950 0.520
62,450 63,449 62,950 0.516
63,450 64,449 63,950 0.512
64,450 65,449 64,950 0.508
65,450 66,449 65,950 0.504
66,450 67,449 66,950 0.501
67,450 68,449 67,950 0.497
68,450 69,449 68,950 0.494
69,450 70,449 69,950 0.491
70,450 71,449 70,950 0.488
71,450 72,449 71,950 0.485
72,450 73,449 72,950 0.482
73,450 74,449 73,950 0.479
74,450 75,449 74,950 0.476
75,450 76,449 75,950 0.473
76,450 77,449 76,950 0.470
77,450 78,449 77,950 0.468
78,450 79,449 78,950 0.465
79,450 80,449 79,950 0.463
80,450 81,449 80,950 0.460
81,450 82,449 81,950 0.458
82,450 83,449 82,950 0.456
83,450 84,449 83,950 0.453
84,450 85,449 84,950 0.451
85,450 86,449 85,950 0.449
86,450 87,449 86,950 0.447
87,450 88,449 87,950 0.445
88,450 89,449 88,950 0.443
89,450 90,449 89,950 0.441
90,450 91,449 90,950 0.439
91,450 92,449 91,950 0.437
92,450 93,449 92,950 0.435
93,450 94,449 93,950 0.434
94,450 95,449 94,950 0.432
95,450 96,449 95,950 0.430
96,450 97,449 96,950 0.428
97,450 98,449 97,950 0.427
98,450 99,449 98,950 0.425
99,450 99,999 99,725 0.424
100,000 100,000 + 100,000 0.422

Formula for Calculating Allowances

1. Select the salary range in which your annual salary falls.

2. Take the Midpoint/Nominal salary and multiply by the adjoining adjustment.

3. Take the product and multiply by the Post Index, e.g. 130, then divide by 100.

4. Subtract the product of #2 from the result, and you will have your annual Post Living Allowance.

5. In accordance with the methodology agreed to in the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives, the maximum midpoint/nominal salary is $100,000 for the purpose of determining Post Living Allowance.

Example 1

  • A salary of $69,700 falls into the salary range of $69, 450 to $70,449, of which the Mid-point/Nominal salary is $69,950.
  • Multiply $69,950 by 0.491, which yields $34,345.
  • Multiply $34,345 by a Post Index of 130, then divide by 100.
  • The result is $44,649. Subtract $34,345 and the result is an annual Post Living Allowance of $10,304.

Example 2

  • A salary of $120,350 falls into the salary range of $100,000 to $100,000 plus, of which the Mid-point/Nominal salary is $100,000.
  • Multiply $100,000 by 0.422 which yields $42,200.
  • Multiply $42,200 by a Post Index of 130, then divide by 100.
  • The result is $54,860. Subtract $42,200 and the result is an annual Post Living Allowance of $12,660.

FSD 56 - Foreign service incentive allowances

Introduction

Foreign service incentive allowances consist of two tax-free allowances provided as incentives to foreign service.

The foreign service premium is provided as an incentive to foreign service and as such recognizes that there are disutilities and disincentives, some of which may be financial, resulting from service outside Canada. The premium varies according to the employee's family size and service outside Canada and is payable to employees to whom the Foreign Service Directives apply in accordance with FSD 3 - Application and FSD 8 - Short-term assignments outside Canada.

The post specific allowance is a non-accountable travel allowance designed to assist employees in travelling from post and reflects 80% of return full (Y) economy air fare between the employee's post and the headquarters city or where a Y fare is not available for a specific post, 100% of the Y2 fare. This allowance is only available when an employee is not subject to the provisions of FSD 46 - Post leave/option.

Directive 56

56.01 Unless otherwise indicated, this directive applies to career foreign service employees and to foreign assignment employees.

Instruction

The provisions of Section 56.01 also apply to employees on assignment in accordance with FSD 8 - Short-term assignments outside Canada.

Foreign Service Premium / Transitional Provisions

56.02

(a) In accordance with this directive, the deputy head shall authorize the payment of a foreign service premium to an employee on the basis of the employee's family size and service outside Canada, calculated in accordance with:

(i) Appendix A for employees who arrive at post on or after April 1, 2009, and

(ii) Appendix C for employees at post prior to April 1, 2009, until the rate under Appendix A is equal to or greater than the rate under Appendix C, or the completion of posting, excluding any extension, which ever comes earlier.

(b) Appendices A and C to this directive shall be updated on April 1st, 2009, and annually thereafter on April 1st, to adjust rates of foreign service premium in accordance with the methodology agreed to in the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives, and published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's website.

(c) An employee serving at a post who is receiving a foreign service premium in accordance with Appendix C, shall not receive a lesser premium on April 1st than that which would have been payable on the basis of the applicable salary group in effect on the preceding March 31st.

Step Progression

56.03

(a) In determining the appropriate step of foreign service premium, an employee shall receive credit for service outside Canada and progression shall be based on points earned for such service.

(b) On initial assignment outside Canada, an employee shall receive the applicable Step I rate of foreign service premium.

(c) Subject to Section 56.05, an employee shall receive:

(i) the Step II rate of foreign service premium upon accumulation of 24 points;

(ii) the Step III rate of foreign service premium upon accumulation of 60 points;

(iii) the Step IV rate of foreign service premium upon accumulation of 96 points;

(iv) the Step V rate of foreign service premium upon accumulation of 132 points; and

(v) the Step VI rate of foreign service premium upon accumulation of 168 points.

Calculation of Points

56.04

(a) Points shall be calculated for service outside Canada:

(i) before July 1, 1975, for foreign assignment employees, at the rate of one point per month of service from October 1, 1972, or from January 1, 1973 for those employees subject to the Foreign Service Regulations on December 31, 1972,

(ii) before July 1, 1975, for career foreign service employees, at the rate of one point per month of service,

(iii) between July 1, 1975, and April 1, 1979, for all employees, at the rate of:

(A) 1 point per month of service at posts which were not listed in the Appendix to FSD 58 (1975),

(B) 1.25 points per month of service at posts which were rated at Levels I and II in the Appendix to FSD 58 (1975), and

(C) 1.5 points per month of service at posts which were rated at Levels III and IV in the Appendix to FSD 58 (1975),

(iv) effective April 1, 1979, for all employees, at the rate of one point per month of service.

(b) For the purpose of calculating points under this directive, an employee shall be deemed to have a completed month of service where there is an entitlement to ten compensation days of foreign service premium in a calendar month, including foreign service premium which is part of a maternity or parental allowance as referred to in FSD 69.07, except that during a cross-posting an employee cannot accumulate credits on the basis of two periods of ten compensation days within the same calendar month.

(c) Subject to Section 56.05, points accumulated for service outside Canada are portable and non-lapsing. Consequently, progression from one step to the next higher step may occur in mid-tour.

(d) In determining the rate of foreign service premium under this directive, an employee shall receive credit for foreign service premium points earned under the Military Foreign Service Instructions (MFSI). This provision extends to public service employees with service under the MFSI and to members of the Canadian Forces where such service qualifies as continuous employment in the public service for leave and severance pay purposes.

Termination of Premium

56.05

(a) Notwithstanding Section 56.03, no premium is payable, without the approval of the deputy head, to an employee who has served seven consecutive years at the same post.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 56.04(a), where payment of the premium has been terminated in accordance with Section 56.05(a), the employee shall cease to accumulate points for service outside Canada during the period in which payment of the premium is not authorized.

Instruction

Where an exception is made to Section 56.05, a report shall be made to the Treasury Board Secretariat outlining the program-related circumstances which justify this exception.

Premium Rates

56.06 Subject to Sections 56.08 and 56.09, an employee shall be entitled to a foreign service premium:

(a) at the accompanied by one dependant rate, only if:

(i) one dependant resides with the employee at the post, or

(ii) the employee is a single parent and has a child who is a dependent student as defined in FSD 2.01(l);

(b) at the accompanied by two or more dependants rates, only if two or more dependants reside with the employee at the post and at least one of the dependants is a child;

where for purposes of this directive:

(c) single parent (parent célibataire) is the parent in a family unit comprising the employee and a child;

(d) child (enfant) refers to a dependant as defined in FSD 2.01(k)(ii); and

(e) reside with the employee at the post (partage la résidence du fonctionnaire à la mission) means that the dependant resides with the employee at the post for at least 8 months of any consecutive 12-month period;

Employee-couples

(f)

(i) each employee of an employee-couple who are assigned to the same post shall receive the unaccompanied rate of foreign service premium except that, where a dependant resides with the employee-couple at the post, one employee shall be considered as unaccompanied and the other employee as accompanied at the appropriate dependant rate, and

(ii) each employee of an employee-couple who are assigned to different posts shall receive the unaccompanied rate of foreign service premium except that, where a dependant resides with the employee, the employee shall be considered as accompanied at the appropriate dependant rate;

Start and End of Premium

56.07 Except where otherwise provided, an employee's entitlement to a foreign service premium shall:

(a) commence on the first compensation day following the employee's arrival at the post; and

(b) cease on the first compensation day following the employee's last day on duty at the post,

unless an employee is cross-posted from one post to another post, in which case the foreign service premium shall continue without interruption.

Change in Family Size

56.08 Where an employee is in receipt of a foreign service premium in accordance with Section 56.02, the premium shall be adjusted to reflect a change in family size where a dependant:

(a) takes up permanent residence with the employee at the post; or

(b) ceases to be a dependant or takes up a separate domicile; or

(c) departs the post permanently in advance of an employee;

in which case the change shall be effective on the first compensation day following the event except that, where a dependant has left the employee's post in advance of a cross-posting, such departure shall be considered as a temporary absence and the provisions of Section 56.09 shall apply.

Temporary absence of dependant

56.09 Where an employee receives an accompanied rate of foreign service premium in accordance with Section 56.06, the premium shall be adjusted to reflect a change in family size where a dependant is temporarily absent from the employee's post for more than 25 compensation days. The change will be effective on the 26th compensation day and shall resume on the first compensation day following the return of the dependant to the employee's residence, except that:

(a) this section shall not apply to an employee who is in receipt of the "accompanied by one dependant" rate of premium where the dependant is a child under Section 56.06(a)(ii); and

(b) in cases of absence of a dependant from the employee's post, the deputy head may authorize continued payment of the foreign service premium at the appropriate accompanied rate for a period of up to six months from the date of departure of the dependant, where, in the deputy head's opinion, such continuation will facilitate operational objectives. Such cases shall be reported to the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental co-ordinating committee.

Post Specific Allowance

56.10

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 56.11, an employee is entitled to a non-accountable post specific allowance, payable on a monthly basis to reflect one-twelfth of the annual rate, in accordance with Appendix B to this directive.

(b) Appendix B to this directive shall be updated annually on June 1st, to reflect 80% of return full (Y ) economy air fare from the post to the employee's headquarters city. Where a Y fare is not available for a specific post, 100% of the Y2 fare shall be used for that post.

(c) The intent of this allowance is to assist an employee with miscellaneous travel requirements, which are a consequence of foreign service, formerly provided under FSD 45 - Foreign service travel of the 1993 and 1997 Foreign Service Directives. There is no requirement for employees to maintain or provide proof of travel.

Instruction

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs has been authorized to revise Appendix B to this directive, on the recommendation of the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental co-ordinating committee, in accordance with the methodology agreed to in the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives.

56.11

The post specific allowance becomes payable:

(a) on June 1, 2001, for employees on posting who have not elected for the provisions of FSD 46 - Post leave/option, and/or who are not subject to the transitional provisions of FSD 46.05;

(b) on or after June 1, 2001, as applicable, for employees who arrive at post on or after this date and who have not elected for the provisions of FSD 46 - Post leave/option; or

(c) on such date as may be determined by the deputy head, subsequent to June 1, 2001, for employees who are on posting and are subject to the provisions of FSD 46.03(b) of FSD 46 - Post leave/option, having accumulated 40 days of post leave credits,

except that,

(d) following receipt of a Posting Confirmation Form (or equivalent) and prior to arrival at post, an employee may request an advance of one year's post specific allowance, for the purpose of a spousal job-hunting trip at the post, or for making arrangements at post for education of one or more accompanying dependants.

Instructions

1. No post specific allowance is payable when an employee is subject to the provisions of FSD 46 - Post leave/option. Unless an employee makes an election for post leave (or is subject to the transitional provisions of FSD 46), the post specific allowance will automatically apply, and will continue to apply until the employee requests a change.

2. An employee may elect for post leave, in accordance with FSD 46 - Post leave/option, in lieu of the post specific allowance, at any time after the commencement of payment of the post specific allowance, by advising their FSD administrator by e-mail 2 months in advance of the desired change. Employees may change their election no more than once per year.

3. Where an advance has been authorized in accordance with Section 56.11(d), the employee will be required to provide evidence that the allowance was used for the purpose it was issued.

Appendix A
Foreign service premium (April 1, 2009)

UNACCOMPANIED
Steps I II III IV V VI
Points (0-23) (24-59) (60-95) (96-131) (132-167) (168+)
Premium 6,157 9,235 12,007 13,207 14,527 15,690
ACCOMPANIED BY ONE DEPENDANT
Steps I II III IV V VI
Points (0-23) (24-59) (60-95) (96-131) (132-167) (168+)
Premium 8,620 12,930 16,809 18,490 20,339 21,966
ACCOMPANIED BY TWO DEPENDANTS
Steps I II III IV V VI
Points (0-23) (24-59) (60-95) (96-131) (132-167) (168+)
Premium 10,344 15,516 20,171 22,188 24,406 26,359
ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DEPENDANTS
Steps I II III IV V VI
Points (0-23) (24-59) (60-95) (96-131) (132-167) (168+)
Premium 10,861 16,291 21,180 23,297 25,627 27,677
ACCOMPANIED BY FOUR OR MORE DEPENDANTS
Steps I II III IV V VI
Points (0-23) (24-59) (60-95) (96-131) (132-167) (168+)
Premium 11,404 17,106 22,238 24,462 26,908 29,061

Note: These rates include the annual increases announced in the April 1, 2009 Policy notice.

Appendix B
Post Specific Allowance (PSA)

The Table below reflects the PSA rates effective June 1, 2009. (Canadian Dollars Per Annum).

Post
(alphabetical order)
PSA
2009
Abidjan 6,219
Abu Dhabi 4,618
Abuja 6,720
Accra 5,247
Addis Ababa 4,052
Algiers 5,518
Almaty 8,938
Amman 4,673
Anchorage 4,666
Ankara 6,722
Athens 5,350
Atlanta 2,485
Auckland 5,891
Baghdad 4,673
Bamako 5,598
Bandar Seri Begawan 5,933
Bangkok 5,918
Barcelona 5,325
Beijing 5,553
Beirut 5,199
Belgrade 5,495
Berlin 4,717
Bern 6,094
Bogota 1,639
Boston 2,502
Brasilia 3,722
Bratislava 7,566
Bridgetown 4,143
Brussels 5,693
Bucharest 6,272
Budapest 4,821
Buenos Aires 3,585
Buffalo 1,319
Cairo 2,858
Canberra 6,469
Cape Town 4,971
Caracas 2,164
Chandigarh 5,724
Chennai 3,860
Chicago 2,443
Chongqing 7,684
Colombo 5,130
Colorado Springs 2,660
Copenhagen 5,404
Dakar 5,420
Dallas 2,958
Damascus 6,398
Dar es Salaam 4,961
Delhi 3,828
Denver 2,585
Detroit 2,231
Dhaka 3,804
Dubai 4,615
Dublin 5,457
Düsseldorf 4,705
Geneva 6,020
Georgetown 3,210
Guadalajara 2,040
Guangzhou 6,036
Guatemala 2,020
Hague 4,967
Hamburg 4,709
Hanoi 5,163
Harare 5,450
Havana 1,776
Helsinki 6,264
Ho Chi Minh 4,902
Hong Kong 5,767
Houston 3,247
Islamabad 2,883
Jakarta 4,782
Johannesburg 4,672
Kabul 5,306
Kandahar 5,565
Kathmandu 4,121
Khartoum 6,437
Kigali 5,278
Kingston, Jamaica 1,558
Kinshasa 6,989
Kuala Lumpur 3,621
Kuwait City 3,924
Kyiv 5,080
La Paz 2,638
Lagos 6,590
Libreville 5,539
Lilongwe 6,436
Lima 2,957
Lisbon 6,148
London 2,848
Los Angeles 2,983
Lusaka 4,107
Madrid 5,311
Managua 1,657
Manila 4,376
Maputo 4,862
Mexico 2,036
Miami 1,782
Minneapolis 3,104
Monterrey 2,297
Montevideo 3,650
Moscow 6,181
Mumbai 3,559
Munich 4,721
Nagoya 8,502
Nairobi 6,998
New York 2,224
Niamey 5,857
Oslo 5,451
Ouagadougou 5,713
Panama City 1,446
Paris 5,346
Philadelphia 2,199
Phnom Penh 4,952
Phoenix 2,617
Port-au-Prince 2,885
Port of Spain 2,778
Prague 4,912
Pretoria 4,783
Princeton 1,712
Pristina 5,481
Quito 1,951
Rabat 4,680
Raleigh-Durham 1,782
Ramallah 6,177
Reykjavik 2,377
Riga 5,464
Rio de Janeiro 3,249
Riyadh 4,615
Rome 4,900
San Diego 3,593
San Fransisco 4,492
San Jose, Costa Rica 1,339
San Jose, USA 3,933
San Salvador 1,649
Santiago 3,625
Santo Domingo 1,815
Sao Paulo 3,744
Sarajevo 5,555
Seattle 3,415
Seoul 3,333
Shanghai 6,037
Singapore 5,196
Stockholm 4,721
Sydney 7,158
Taipei 3,065
Tegucigalpa 1,610
Tehran 2,609
Tel Aviv 6,052
Tokyo 8,137
Tripoli 3,739
Tucson 4,071
Tunis 4,326
Ulaanbaatar 5,085
Vatican 4,900
Vienna 6,340
Vilnius 6,342
Warsaw 5,323
Washington, D.C. 2,700
Wellington 6,262
Yaounde 5,713
Zagreb 6,123

Appendix C - Transitional Table
Foreign service premium (April 1, 2009)

UNACCOMPANIED
Salary ranges Steps
$ I
(0-23)
II
(24-59)
III
(60-95)
IV
(96-131)
V
(132-167)
VI
(168+)
$100,363 to $125,453 6,244 9,374 12,494 13,742 14,992 16,243
$125,454 & over 6,520 9,780 13,037 14,340 15,648 16,951
ACCOMPANIED BY ONE DEPENDANT
Salary ranges Steps
$ I
(0-23)
II
(24-59)
III
(60-95)
IV
(96-131)
V
(132-167)
VI
(168+)
$100,363 to $125,453 8,593 12,889 17,181 18,639 20,620 22,334
$125,454 & over 8,963 13,445 17,927 19,452 21,514 23,304
ACCOMPANIED BY TWO OR MORE DEPENDANTS
Salary range Steps
$ I
(0-23)
II
(24-59)
III
(60-95)
IV
(96-131)
V
(132-167)
VI
(168+)
$100,363 to $125,453 10,545 15,815 21,082 23,194 25,298 27,403
$125,454 & over 11,003 16,500 21,993 24,200 26,394 28,602

Note: These rates include the annual increases announced in the April 1, 2009 Policy notice.

FSD 58 - Post differential allowance

Introduction

This allowance is payable in accordance with the appendix to this directive in recognition of undesirable conditions existing at certain posts. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs has been delegated authority to amend post rating levels, on the recommendation of the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental co-ordinating committee, as and when required.

Directive 58

58.01 The deputy head shall authorize payment of a post differential allowance at the applicable rate having regard for the post rating level and the employee's family size, as shown in the appendix to this directive, where:

(a) the amounts of post differential allowance shall be revised on the first of April each year in accordance with the methodology agreed to in the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives, and published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's website; and

(b) the post rating levels shall be established and/or amended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the recommendation of the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental co-ordinating committee, as and when required, and published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's website; and

(c) the accompanied by one dependant rate shall be paid where one dependant is residing with the employee at the post for at least 8 months of any consecutive 12-month period; and

(d) the accompanied by two or more dependant rates shall be paid where two or more dependants are residing with the employee at the post for at least 8 months of any consecutive 12-month period provided one of the dependants is a dependent child.

(e)

(i) the unaccompanied rate shall be paid to each employee of an employee-couple who are assigned to the same post, except that where a dependant resides with the employee-couple at the post, one employee shall be considered as unaccompanied and the other employee as accompanied at the appropriate dependant rate, and

(ii) the unaccompanied rate shall be paid to each employee of an employee-couple who are assigned to different posts, except that where a dependant resides with the employee, the employee shall be considered as accompanied at the appropriate dependant rate.

Instruction

The provisions of Section 58.01 also apply to employees on temporary duty in accordance with the provisions of FSD 8 - Short-term assignments outside Canada, where the employee occupies self-contained accommodation.

58.02 Except where otherwise provided, an employee's post differential allowance shall commence at the appropriate rate on the first compensation day following the employee's/dependant's arrival at the post and shall cease on the first compensation day following the employee's last day on duty at the post.

Instruction

Where a dependant departs the post permanently in advance of an employee, the rate of post differential allowance shall be reduced accordingly.

58.03 Where an unaccompanied employee is absent from the post on temporary duty, under emergency evacuation conditions or leave with pay for a continuous period of more than 25 compensation days, the post differential allowance shall cease on the 26th compensation day and shall resume on the first compensation day following the employee's return to the post.

58.04 Where an employee is in receipt of a post differential allowance at an accompanied rate, the rate of allowance shall be adjusted as follows:

(a) where the employee and all dependants are absent from the post for a period exceeding 25 compensation days because the employee is on temporary duty, under emergency evacuation conditions or on leave with pay, the allowance shall cease on the 26th compensation day following their departure and shall resume at the appropriate rate as applicable, on the first compensation day following the return of the employee and/or dependant(s) to the post and shall again be recalculated on the first compensation day following the employee's or dependant's return to the post to reflect the change in family size;

(b) where either,

(i) the employee is absent from the post on temporary duty or on leave with pay, or

(ii) the dependant(s) is/are absent from the post for whatever reason,

for a period exceeding 25 compensation days, the rate of allowance shall be recalculated on the 26th compensation day following the departure of the employee and/or dependant(s) to reflect the change in family size as applicable and shall again be recalculated on the first compensation day following the employee's or dependant's return to the post to reflect the change in family size.

58.05 Where an employee is absent from the post on temporary duty at a location for which a post differential allowance is payable, the post differential allowance applicable to the temporary place of duty shall become payable on the 26th and each succeeding compensation day of such temporary duty unless an employee's dependant continues to reside at the post during the employee's absence. In this case, the allowance payable is the sum of the post differential allowance payable at the post on the basis of the employee's family size less one and the post differential allowance payable at the temporary place of duty at the unaccompanied rate except that in no case shall the allowance exceed the post differential allowance which would be applicable were the employee and dependant(s) at the post with the higher post rating level.

58.06 Following completion of 24 consecutive months of service at one or more posts for which a post differential allowance is payable, the post differential allowance to which an employee is entitled, on the basis of family size and post rating level, shall be increased by 50%. This bonus payment shall continue until the employee's final departure from a post at which a post differential allowance is payable. The bonus may be payable at one or more posts listed in the appendix to this directive, either as a result of an extended tour of duty at the same post or as a result of consecutive assignments at two or more such posts.

Instructions

1. The term "24 consecutive months of service" means 24 consecutive months during each month of which an employee is in receipt of a post differential allowance for at least ten compensation days.

2. The following situations do not constitute a break in service in the determination of a bonus payment, but, at the same time, cannot be counted as service to establish eligibility for a bonus payment:

(a) temporary absence from post or between posts:

(i) on paid leave,

(ii) under emergency evacuation conditions,

(iii) on temporary duty, or

(iv) on leave without pay (including leave without pay at post);

(b) assignments in Canada between postings, which do not exceed 30 consecutive months, including periods of leave without pay

3. Bonus payments authorized under this section shall not be taken into consideration in calculating an additional amount of post differential allowance or special payment under Section 58.08.

4.

(a) Where following final departure from post, an employee is granted leave without pay prior to reporting for duty in Canada, the date of assignment in Canada, for purposes of FSD 58.06, is the date of commencement of leave without pay.

(b) Except where preceded by a period of leave without pay, assignments in Canada commence on the date the employee reports for duty in Canada.

58.07 In the event of extraordinary conditions arising out of active hostilities and / or natural disasters at a post, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the recommendation of the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental co-ordinating committee, shall:

(a) establish a post rating level which recognizes extraordinary post conditions, where there was no post differential allowance at the time; or

(b) revise the post rating level in effect at the time up to level V, to recognize extraordinary post conditions; or

(c) establish a special payment of up to 100% of the basic level V post differential allowance to recognize extraordinary post conditions where a level V post rating was in effect at the time; or

(d) continue or revise, as necessary, payments authorized under this section to recognize a change in conditions, until such time as these conditions can be accommodated within the normal PDA rating scale; or

(e) recommend to the President of the Treasury Board such additional assistance as may be considered necessary, where current provisions are inadequate, because of unusual situations.

Instruction

Special payments in excess of 50% of the basic level V PDA or assistance authorized in accordance with sections (c) and (e), shall be reported to the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives

58.08 Where a post rating level or special payment has been established in accordance with Section 58.07, the additional amount of post differential allowance which shall be payable over and above the post differential allowance which was previously established shall be calculated as follows:

(a) where there was no post differential allowance authorized previously, the amount of post differential allowance is the amount established in the appendix to this directive on the basis of the post rating level and the employee's family size at the post;

(b) where a level I, II, III or IV post differential allowance was previously established, the additional amount of post differential allowance is the difference between the basic amount of post differential allowance in effect at the time and the basic amount of post differential allowance up to level V as established in the appendix to this directive on the basis of the employee's family size at the post;

(c) where a level V post differential allowance was previously established, the additional amount of post differential allowance is the amount established as a special payment in accordance with Section 58.07(c) on the basis of the employee's family size at the post;

(d) the additional amounts of post differential allowance or special payments calculated in accordance with Section 58.08(a), (b) and (c) shall be adjusted, where applicable, to reflect a change in the amount of basic post differential allowance on April 1st of each year;

(e) notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 58.03 and 58.04, the additional amounts of post differential allowance or special payments shall be payable during the period of extraordinary conditions, as determined by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in accordance with Section 58.07, except that payments shall be limited to the period during which an employee and/or dependant is/are exposed to extraordinary conditions and shall be adjusted to reflect the employee's family size at the post.

Instructions

1. While additional amounts of post differential allowance or special payments are adjusted or terminated as a result of an emergency evacuation, Sections 58.03 and 58.04 apply to post differential allowances in effect prior to the commencement of the extraordinary conditions.

2. In applying the provisions of Section 58.08(a), (b) and (c), hardship rating points previously given for factors for recognition of extraordinary conditions shall be recalculated to take into account these extraordinary conditions, as determined in accordance with the agreed to methodology.

58.09 The provisions of Section 58.08 shall apply to all employees at a post during the period in which an additional amount of post differential allowance or special payment is established to recognize extraordinary conditions, including an employee on temporary duty, notwithstanding that such employee may not be otherwise subject to this directive.

58.10 The special payment or additional post differential allowance paid pursuant to Section 58.08 are to be calculated on the basis of the basic post differential allowance and shall be paid in addition to the bonus payments generated pursuant to Section 58.06.

Instructions

1. A Post Rating Form, which was agreed to by the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives is used to measure relative degrees of hardship at posts. On the basis of numerical ratings of relative degrees of hardship, employees are eligible for post differential allowances according to the appendix to this directive. The Post Rating Form resulted from a detailed study and analysis of conditions at representative posts as well as compensation provided in recognition of hardship by other foreign governments. The form measures physical environment, local conditions and personal safety and was revised in 2003.

2. Criteria for payments under Section 58.07(c), (d) and (e) were agreed to by the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives, effective April 1, 2009.

Appendix

Post Differential Allowance
Canadian Dollars Per Annum
April 1, 2009

Post Rating Unaccomp-
anied
Accompanied by One Dependant Accompanied by Two Dependants Accompanied by Three Dependants Accompanied by Four or More Dependants
  ($) ($) ($) ($) ($)
I 3,010 3,913 4,519 4,666 4,786
II 4,522 5,879 6,783 7,010 7,235
III 6,021 7,827 9,034 9,333 9,633
IV 9,034 11,744 13,552 14,004 14,455
V 12,045 15,658 18,068 18,669 19,272

Note: These rates include the annual increases announced in the April 1, 2009 Policy notice.

POST RATINGS - April 1, 2009

POSTS LEVEL
Abidjan, Ivory Coast V
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates I
Abuja, Nigeria V
Accra, Ghana IV
Addis Ababa, Ethopia IV
Algiers, Algeria V
Almaty, Kazakhstan IV
Amman, Jordan IV
Ankara, Turkey III
Baghdad, Iraq V
Bamako, Mali V
Bandar Seri Begawab, Brunei II
Bangkok, Thailand III
Beijing, China IV
Beirut, Lebanon IV
Belgrade, Yugoslavia III
Bogota, Colombia IV
Brasilia, Brazil III
Bratslava, Slovakia I
Bridgetown, Barbados II
Bucharest, Romania III
Budapest, Hungary II
Buenos Aires, Argentina II
Cairo, Egypt III
Cameroon V
Capetown, South Africa II
Caracas, Venezuela IV
Chandigarh, India IV
Chennai, India IV
Chongqing, China V
Columbo, Sri Lanka IV
Dakar, Senegal IV
Damascus, Syria IV
Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania IV
Dhaka, Bangladesh V
Dubai, United Arab Emirates II
Georgetown, Guyana IV
Guadalajara, Mexico II
Guangzhou, China V
Guatemala, Guatemala IV
Hanoi, Vietnam IV
Harare, Zimbabwe IV
Havana, Cuba IV
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam IV
Hong Kong, China II
Islamabad, Pakistan V
Jakarta, Indonesia IV
Johannesburg, South Africa II
Kabul, Afghanistan V
Kandahar, Afghanistan V
Kathmandu, Nepal V
Khartoum, Sudan V
Kiev, Ukraine IV
Kigali, Rwanda V
Kingston, Jamaica III
Kinshasa, Congo V
Kuala Lumpur, Malasie III
Kuwait, Kuwait III
La Paz, Bolivia IV
Lagos, Nigeria V
Libreville, Gabon IV
Lilongwe IV
Lima, Peru IV
Lusaka, Zambia IV
Managua, Nicaragua III
Manila, Philippines III
Maputo, Mozambique V
Mexico, Mexico III
Monterrey, Mexico II
Montevideo, Uruguay II
Moscow, Russia IV
Mumbai, India V
Nairobi, Kenya IV
New Delhi, India IV
Niamey, Niger V
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso V
Panama, Panama II
Phnom Penh, Cambodia IV
Port au Prince, Haiti V
Port of Spain, Trinidad Toboga II
Prague, Czech Republic I
Pretoria, South Africa II
Pristina, Serbia V
Quito, Ecuador III
Rabat, Morocco III
Ramallah, Israel IV
Reykjavik, Iceland II
Riga, Latvia I
Rio de Janiero, Brazil III
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia V
San Jose, Costa Rica III
San Salvador, El Salvador IV
Santiago, Chile II
Santo Domingo, Dom. Republic III
Sao Paulo, Brazil III
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina III
Seoul, Korea III
Shanghai, China IV
Singapore, Singapore I
Skopje, Macedonia IV
Taipei, Taiwan II
Tegucigalpa, Honduras IV
Tehran, Iran IV
Tel Aviv, Israel III
Tirana, Albania V
Tripoli, Libya V
Tunis, Tunisia II
Vilnius, Lithuania I
Warsaw, Poland II
Yaounde, Cameroon IV
Zagreb, Croatia II

Notes:

1. The amount of post differential allowance shall be revised on the first of April each year in accordance with the methodology agreed to in the National Joint Council Committee on Foreign Service Directives, and published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's website.

2. The post rating levels shall be amended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the recommendation of the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental co-ordinating committee, as and when required, and published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's website.

3. Notwithstanding Section 107 of the Public Service Labour Relations Act, revisions to this Appendix shall not constitute a change in terms and conditions of employment for employees subject to the Foreign Service Directives.