La Mutuelle International Civil Servants’ Mutual Association of the United Nations and Specialized Agencies, Geneva February 2004

Keywords Non-profit association founded in 1959 Placed under the patronage of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva To promote mutual assistance among staff members of the United Nations at Geneva and other Organizations within the United Nations family

To be a member, you must Be a civil servant of either the United Nations Office at Geneva or of an affiliated organization Be on the regular Geneva payroll and not on a local payroll Hold a contract of employment valid for at least six months at the time of application for membership Pay a registration fee of CHF 10,--

Activities of the Association Loans (CHF only) Deposits (CHF only) Mobility Plan (from 1 January 2004)

Loans The Mutual Association grants its members two types of loans: Housing loans Ordinary loans For both, monthly repayments are deducted from the salary.

Ordinary loans Maximum amount: 7 x net monthly take-home pay Duration of loan: between 3 and 60 months Interest rate: 6,50% per year, fixed for the entire duration of the loan The monthly loan repayments may be up to a maximum of 25 percent of the net monthly take-home pay. The maximum duration of the loan depends on the expiration date of the borrower’s contract and his/her age of retirement and seniority in the Organization.

Housing loans Maximum amount: CHF 200’000.- Duration of loan: between 2 and 10 years Interest rate: 4% per year fixed for the first 4 years of the loan The monthly loan repayment can rise to a maximum of 35 percent of the net monthly take-home pay, including the cost of any ordinary loan.

Housing loans (ctd.) The total monthly cost of the real estate transaction (including any bank loan) may reach a maximum of 45 percent of the net monthly take-home pay (spouse’s income may also be taken into consideration) The maximum duration of the loan and its amount depend on the expiration date of the borrower’s contract with the organization, his or her age of retirement and seniority in the Organization, and the amount of the withdrawal settlement from the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. CHF 25’000.- will be added as an undertaking by the Mutual Association.

Deposits The Mutual Association offers its members two types of accounts : the current account the deposit account

The current account Deposits: unlimited. For amounts exceeding CHF30’000.- evidence of the origin of the funds will be required. Withdrawals: unlimited Prior notice of withdrawal: none, except for important amounts to be withdrawn in cash, for which a prior notice of one working day may be required. Interest rate: 0,50 percent per year Statement of account: half-yearly

Deposit accounts Deposits: a maximum amount of CHF 2’000,- per month. Any amounts exceeding this limit will be automatically credited to a current account. Withdrawals: unlimited. Prior notice of withdrawal: 3 working days. Interest rate: based on the results of the financial year. It is decided, on the proposal of the Board of Directors, by the General Assembly which is held within 6 months following the end of the financial year.

Deposit accounts (ctd.) Members who retire on pension are allowed to deposit, within the month following payment, their final emoluments paid by the organization. It is not possible to deposit any amount paid by the Pension Fund. Statement of account: half-yearly.

Interest rates Loans Deposits

Mobility Plan An undertaking for the promotion of sustainable development Mobility Plan launched by the city of Geneva United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and the Mutual Association Partnership with the Geneva Public Transport Company (TPG) and the Swiss Federal Railways Offering special rates to serving and retired officials of International Organizations who are members of the Mutual Association.

Mobility Plan (ctd.) The following may benefit from the Mobility Plan: Geneva Public Transport Partnership: - members of our Mutual Association - spouses of retired members Swiss Federal Railway Partnership: - spouses of serving and retired members - members’ children (up to 25 years)

Mobility Plan (ctd.) normal rate: CHF 700.- Examples : Swiss Federal Railways (CFF): annual free pass Geneva-Lausanne normal rate: CHF 2’196.- Mutual rate: CHF 2’098.- Geneva Public Transport Company (TPG ): Unireso® annual free pass normal rate: CHF 700.- Mutual rate : CHF 597.- promotion rate up to 29.02.04: CHF 530.-

To contact us UN, Palais des Nations, Office B-214, Library Building, door 20, 2nd floor. Monday to Friday - The Cashier’s desk is open non-stop from 10 a.m. to 3.30 a.m. - The Secretariat will answer your calls from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To contact us (ctd.) International Labour Office (ILO), Room No. 8, 6th Floor. Every Thursday - From 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. reserved only for: * deposits and withdrawals of funds * collection of loans by cheque or cash - From 1 p.m. to 3.30 reserved only for : * information and advice * collection of loans by bank transfer