The AIIC-UNCEB Agreement

AIIC’s Agreement with the United Nations - the keystone of the sector for 50 years


Since 1969, AIIC has had a collective bargaining agreement that regulates working conditions and pay for freelance interpreters employed by signatory organisations. Starting 1 January 2019, short-term interpreters have been working under a new ‘evergreen’ Agreement that does not expire but is tacitly renewable every five years and is only open to renegotiation under specific circumstances.

 

Consultation Mechanism

Towards the end of 2019, the UN Negotiating Delegation started preparing the first meeting of the Consultation Mechanism, a novelty under the 2019 Agreement. The meeting took place on 10 February 2020 with significant participation by ratifying Organisations. The meeting discussed the many issues brought up by the Delegation. It was a success, since multiple matters were resolved and those that have yet to be resolved are at least being addressed, as can be seen in the meeting report.

Get in touch

The Delegation maintains open communication with colleagues and represents all short-term interpreters covered by the Agreement, whether AIIC members or not. Short-term interpreters working for signatory organisations must be recruited directly and not through an agency, and must be paid according to the rate schedule linked below. Please contact the Negotiating Delegation or your Professional Delegation if you suspect the provisions therein are not (fully) respected.

Details of the Agreement

──       The current version of the Agreement that entered into force on 1 January 2019 is available here. 


──       Current rates are available on the UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination website: https://unsceb.org/2021-interpreters-rates


──       Daily Subsistence Allowance (per diem) rates are available on the International Civil Service Commission website: https://icsc.un.org/Home/DailySubsistence


AIIC has prepared a useful checklist for interpreters working under the Agreement.

Organisations party to the Agreement

──       International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC)


──       Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)


──       International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)


──       International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)


──       International Labour Organization (ILO) (including its regional offices)


──       International Maritime Organization (IMO)


──       International Telecommunication Union (ITU)


──       Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)


──       Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO Preparatory Commission)


──       United Nations (including its departments, offices and regional commissions, as well as funds and programmes and other entities administered by the United Nations Secretariat)


──       United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)


──       United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)


──       Universal Postal Union (UPU) 


──       World Food Programme (WFP)


──       World Health Organization (WHO) (including its regional offices and programmes: AFRO, AMRO, EMRO, EURO, SEARO, WPRO, IARC)


──       World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)


──       World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Group Contract Form

Contact the Negotiating Delegation: un@aiic.net