If, based on our assessment, you can be posted with Ger-
man social insurance coverage, we will submit an applica-
tion to the responsible carrier on your behalf. If this is con-
firmed, we will pay contributions to the possible social
security branches for you.
Accompanying partners (MAPs)
Helping seconded staff to combine their career with family
and care responsibilities is particularly important to us. We
know that supporting families is often crucial to someone’s
decision to accept an assignment abroad. GIZ therefore
supports partners with making preparations and overcom-
ing any obstacles before, during and after their outward
journey, ensuring that their experience abroad is a positive
one. The MAP Desk is the core of our information and
support services in relation to employment and benefits.
Are you an MAP? Would you like further information?
Please contact the MAP Desk by emailing map@giz.de.
Working time & annual leave
GIZ allows you to manage your working time flexibly, as
regulated under the employer/staff council agreement on an-
nual working time and long-term working time accounts. A
distinction is made between trust-based working hours and
recorded working time. The annual working time amounts to
2,028 hours, equivalent to an average of 39 hours per week.
To compensate for the accumulation of time credit, all staff
are entitled to take one day off in lieu per month (compensa-
tory day off). These days may be ‘pooled’ and up to three
compensatory days off can be taken together in one quarter.
If the additional time worked cannot be compensated for
through the flexible annual working time or through further
flexible working time arrangements, and if you are employed
for a period of at least three years or have a permanent con-
tract, you have the chance to credit these hours to a long-
term working time account. With such an account, work-
ing hours can be accumulated and the credit can be used to
obtain a period of work release. This release (sabbatical) must
be taken within the contract term.
GIZ also offers various models of part-time work. These
models relate to the amount of time worked expressed as a
certain percentage of the full working time and the distribu-
tion of the part-time hours across the days of the week. With
consideration for the employee’s personal situation, and tak-
ing the needs of the company into account, an appropriate
part-time model can be agreed. The organisation of working
time is discussed between employees and their manager and
documented in the time recording system.
When an employee works a regular five-day week, the collec-
tively agreed period of leave amounts to 30 working days
per calendar year, based on 12 full months of employment.
This leave can be taken up to 31 October in the following
year. For an agreed part-time position with fewer than five
working days per week, this entitlement is reduced accord-
ingly. Depending on the country of your assignment, you
may be entitled to additional days of leave. National holi-
days also apply. The local country offices may also determine
further days as being generally work-free. Furthermore, you
may apply for two days of special leave if you have to move
home for company reasons.
For each full year of local residence in your place of work,
you receive an allowance for yourself and for any entitled
family members to cover the cost of outward and return
flights for home leave. The amount of this allowance is de-
termined by the company for each calendar year. It may be
calculated as a gross flat-rate sum, or refunded net against
proof of expenses up to the amount of the flat-rate sum. For
a net payment you must submit original copies of your re-
ceipts to our travel agency.
Preparation and training
To help you familiarise yourself with GIZ , you will undergo
a preparation course. As well as preparing you thoroughly to
carry out your job, this is also a chance for you to get to know
the company, its fields of activity and corporate policy. We
would also like to give you some initial insights into the situ-
ation in your country of assignment. Employees also have the
opportunity to attend internal and external training courses.
You can discuss these according to your needs with your
manager and make a note of them in your preparation plan.
As a part of your preparation for assignments abroad, you
can attend a number of courses together with your accompa-
nying partner, including language classes and seminars about
the new country. GIZ has developed a special approach to
its training that also helps accompanying partners to prepare
for the special challenges and issues to be faced. Moreover,
the courses prepare parents for travelling with their children
and use play to help children themselves to prepare for the
new life.