Government of Canada

Vacation leave accrues monthly based on years of service, starting at 9.375 hours per month and increasing up to 18.75 hours per month after 28 years, equating to approximately 15 to 18.75 days annually. A one-time credit of 37.5 hours is granted after two years of service. Sick leave accrues at 9.375 hours per month. Maternity leave without pay is up to 18 weeks, extendable up to 52 weeks if the newborn is hospitalized, with a maternity allowance under a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) Plan providing up to 93% of weekly pay during Employment Insurance waiting and benefit periods. Parental leave without pay is up to 37 or 63 weeks, with parental allowances under SUB Plan options providing up to 93% (standard) or 55.8% (extended) of weekly pay during EI or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan benefits. Bereavement leave includes up to 7 consecutive calendar days or two periods totaling 5 working days, plus up to 3 days travel leave. Domestic violence leave with pay is up to 75 hours per fiscal year. Other leaves include court leave, personnel selection leave, education leave (up to 1 year without pay, possibly with allowance up to 100% of basic salary), leave for traditional Indigenous practices (15 hours paid, 22.5 hours unpaid annually), and leave without pay for personal needs or spouse relocation. Part-time employees receive pro-rated vacation and sick leave credits and a holiday premium of 4.6%.

Salaries are set in Appendix "A" with annual rates for various Foreign Service levels (FS-01 to FS-04) and steps. For example, FS-01 annual salaries range from $72,292 (Step 1, July 1, 2021) to $103,494 (Step 7, July 1, 2025). Pay increases occur annually on August 1 as in-range increments, and economic adjustments are applied on July 1 each year with specified percentage increases (e.g., 4.79% total increase effective July 1, 2022). Overtime is compensated at 1.5 times the hourly rate for the first 7.5 hours and double time thereafter on scheduled workdays; on days of rest, 1.5 times for the first 7.5 hours and double time for subsequent hours. Call-back pay guarantees a minimum of one hour's pay at straight time or three hours if physically reporting to work on a holiday or day of rest. Standby pay is one half hour for every four hours on standby, plus overtime pay if called in. Meal allowances of $12 are provided for overtime exceeding three or four hours. Compensatory leave may be granted in lieu of overtime pay. Part-time employees receive pro-rated benefits and a 4.6% premium on straight-time hours in lieu of paid holidays.

This collective agreement covers all employees in the Foreign Service Group (Code 312) represented by the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers. Its main purpose is to establish terms and conditions of employment including remuneration, benefits, and working conditions to maintain a high-quality career foreign service within the Canadian public service. The agreement is effective from the date of signing and expires on June 30, 2026. Key outcomes for employees include structured pay scales with scheduled increases, comprehensive leave provisions (vacation, sick, maternity, parental, bereavement, domestic violence, and others), overtime and standby compensation, and protections against discrimination and harassment.