Article 34 shall be replaced by the following:
'Article 34
1. Officials other than those in Grades A 1 and A 2 shall serve a probationary period before they can be established. The period shall be nine months for officials in Category A, in the Language Service and in Category B and six months for other officials.
Where, during his probationary period, an official is prevented, by sickness, maternity leave under Article 58, or accident, from performing his duties for a continuous period of at least one month, the appointing authority may extend his probationary period by the corresponding length of time.
2. A report on the probationer may be made at any time during the probationary period if his work is proving obviously inadequate.
This report shall be communicated to the person concerned, who shall have the right to submit his comments in writing within a period of eight days. The report and the comments shall be transmitted immediately by the probationer's immediate superior to the appointing authority, which shall, within a period of three weeks, obtain the opinion of the Joint Reports Committee on the action to be taken. The appointing authority may decide to dismiss the probationer before the end of the probationary period, giving him one month's notice; the period of service may not, however, exceed the normal probationary period.
However, the appointing authority may, in exceptional circumstances, authorize continuation of the probationary period and assign the official to another department. In this case the new assignment must be for at least six months; it shall be subject to the limits set out in paragraph 4.
3. One month at the latest before the expiry of the probationary period, a report shall be made on the ability of the probationer to perform the duties pertaining to his post and also on his efficiency and conduct in the service. This report shall be communicated to the probationer, who shall have the right to submit his comments in writing within a period of eight days.
Should it recommend dismissal or, in exceptional circumstances, extension of the probationary period, the report and the comments shall be transmitted immediately by the probationer's immediate superior to the appointing authority, which shall, within a period of three weeks, consult the Joint Reports Committee on the action to be taken.
A probationer whose work has not proved adequate for establishment in his post shall be dismissed. However, the appointing authority may, in exceptional circumstances, extend the probationary period for a maximum of six months, and possibly assign the probationer to another department.
4. The total length of the probationary period shall in no circumstances exceed 15 months.
5. Except where he is in a position forthwith to resume employment elsewhere, a dismissed probationer shall receive compensation equal to three months' basic salary if he has completed more than one year's service, two months' basic salary if he has completed at least six months' service and one months' basic salary if he has completed less than six months' service.
6. Paragraphs 2, 3, 4, and 5 shall not apply to officials who resign before the end of their probationary period.`