Qualification standards for Micro- nesian employees, specifications of approved positions, and standardized rates of pay are described in the “Micronesian Title and Pay Plan.” This Plan provides three distinct pay schedules: manual occupations and skilled crafts; clerical, administrative and protective positions; and professional and managerial positions. As the result of a 1966 comprehensive study of the Plan, a new classification and pay plan for positions in the manual occupations and skilled crafts became effective in July 1967. The new plan greatly increases rates for skilled craftsmen and their supervisors. At the same time, an increase in rates for the n as clerical and administrative schedule waseffected. The Trust Territory Merit System spells out the terms and conditions and benefits of employment within the Trust Territory executive branch and gives legal force to the rights of employees. Among features of the System are: @ Appointment of a Personnel Board Territorial e Protection against arbitrary and discriminatory punishment of employees through procedural guarantees of due process and a system of appeals e Provision for competitive appointments through examinations e An employee council to act as official spokesman for employees on matters affecting their pay, status, and working conditions e Authorization for a retirement system, 24 ok, oe eee group life insurance, annual and sick leave and oth benefits By the end of fiscal year 1968, . of the above features had been i1 plemented except the enactment ot retirement system. The Administratic is funding a special portion of the ne Social Security System, described Part VII, Chapter 5, to recognize lor service by its employees. Employe: who have worked for the Admini tration for more than 5 years w: becomefully insured faster and receis a higher pension than non-governme: employees upon retirement. Set up in 1967, a grouplife insu ance program open to all Micronesia employees provides $1,000 doub: indemnity life insurance for ever $1,000 of annual income or any frac tion thereof. Government employee: more than 90% of whom haveelecte: to be covered, pay two-thirds of th premiums while the Territory Goverr ment pays one-third. The Administration also offers it employees workmen’s compensatio: insurance through a private insuranc: company. The program covers up t three-fourths of a Government em ployee’s salary for lost time incurrec from an on-the-job accident. All medi. cal and hospital expenses for a duty. connected accident are borne by the Administration. The Governmeni makes every effort to retain employees capable of performing their work after any injuries sustained on the job. Private construction companies working on contract to the Trust Territory Government also have access to the workmen’s compensation program, premiums are paid directly by these companies to the insurance company. The Administration entirely funds a death benefit of up to one year’s Part V—Political Advancement