United States Citizens Hired Abroad.—

Sec. 311. [22 U.S.C. 3951] United States Citizens Hired Abroad.— (a) The Secretary, under section 303, may appoint United States citizens, who are family members of government employees assigned abroad or are hired for service at their post of residence, for employment in positions customarily filled by Foreign Service officers, Foreign Service personnel, and foreign national employees. (b) The fact that an applicant for employment in a position referred to in subsection (a) is a family member of a Government employee assigned abroad shall be considered an affirmative factor in employing such person. (c)(1) Non-family members employed under this section for service at their post of residence shall be paid in accordance with local compensation plans established under section 408. (2) Family members employed under this section shall be paid in accordance with the Foreign Service Schedule or the salary rates established under section 407. (3) In exceptional circumstances, non-family members may be paid in accordance with the Foreign Service Schedule or the salary rates established under section 407, if the Secretary determines that the national interest would be served by such payments. (d) Nonfamily member United States citizens employed under this section shall not be eligible by reason of such employment for benefits under chapter 8 of this Act, or under chapters 83 or 84 of title 5, United States Code. (e) The Secretary shall hold a family member of a government employee described in subsection (a) seeking employment in a position described in that subsection to the same employment standards as those applicable to Foreign Service officers, Foreign Service personnel, or foreign national employees seeking the same or a substantially similar position.