United Nations Common System: Report of the International Civil Service Commission

A/RES/52/216No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 121United Nations common system, published in 1998.

What other versions does this mandate have?

20 versions · 1984–2002

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/56/244

2002A/RES/56/244United Nations common system :#report of the International Civil Service CommissionLatestCompare with previous version
2001A/RES/55/223United Nations common system :#report of the International Civil Service CommissionCompare with previous version
2000A/RES/54/238United Nations common system :#report of the International Civil Service CommissionCompare with previous version
1999A/RES/53/209United Nations common system report of the International Civil Service Commission :Compare with previous version
1998A/RES/52/216United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service CommissionCompare with previous version

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What subjects does this mandate have?

14 topics

Education Grant General Service Staff Geneva (Switzerland)International Civil Service Mission Allowance Pensionable Remuneration Personnel Management Post Adjustment Professional Staff Salaries and Allowances Statistical Methodology Travel Women's Advancement Working Conditions

What does this mandate say?

35 operative paragraphs

I

Reconfirms the continued application of the Noblemaire principle;

Reaffirms the need to continue to ensure the competitiveness of the conditions of service of the common system;

Takes note with appreciation of the study by the Commission to identify the highest-paying national civil service;

Takes note of the findings and recommendations of the Commission outlined in paragraph 47 of the addendum to its twenty-first annual report;

Notes that it has not been possible to narrow existing differences on the scope of the study or the applicability of the Master Standard without substantially modifying the approved methodology;

Takes note of the findings of the Commission outlined in paragraph 54 (c) of its twenty-third annual report;

Recognizes that the actual process of changing comparators is a complex one, with implications for pensions, the currency of record and the location of the base of the United Nations remuneration system;

Acknowledges its option of margin management;

Takes note of the observation of the Commission in paragraph 47 (c) of the addendum to its twenty-first annual report5 and the views expressed thereon by Member States;

Requests the Commission to continue to monitor the situation and to report to the General Assembly when appropriate, and decides to keep these questions under review;

B. Evolution of the margin

Recalling the standing mandate from the General Assembly, in which the Commission is requested to continue its review of the relationship between the net remuneration of the United Nations staff in the Professional and higher categories in New York and that of the United States federal civil service employees in comparable positions in Washington, D.C. (referred to as "the margin"),

Notes that the margin between net remuneration of officials in the Professional and higher categories of the United Nations in New York and that of officials in comparable positions in the United States federal civil service for 1997 is 115.7;

C. Base/floor salary scale

Recalling section I.H of its resolution 44/198, by which it established a floor net salary level for staff in the Professional and higher categories by reference to the corresponding base net salary levels of officials in comparable positions serving at the base city of the comparator civil service (the federal civil service of the United States of America),

Approves, with effect from 1 March 1998, the revised base scale of gross and net salaries for staff in the Professional and higher categories, contained in annex I to the present resolution, and the consequential amendment to the Staff Regulations of the United Nations, as reflected in annex II to the present resolution;

D. Post adjustment at Geneva

Recalling section I.B of its resolution 50/208 of 23 December 1995 related to the establishment in 1996 of a single post adjustment index in respect of staff members whose duty station is Geneva,

Recalling also section I.E of its resolution 51/216, in which it reiterated its request to the Commission urgently to complete its study regarding the methodology for establishing a single post adjustment index for Geneva and to complete the study needed to implement the single post adjustment at the earliest date, and no later than 1 January 1998,

Welcomes with appreciation the extensive information provided by the Commission and the organizations of the common system, as contained in the report of the Commission;

Notes that a number of elements have been raised that had not previously been reported upon, or discussed by the General Assembly;

Requests the Commission to review those elements, inter alia, the possibility for staff members of the common system (a) to reside in France, (b) to travel to France and (c) to transport goods between France and Switzerland, and the way in which transitional measures would be introduced under any option proposed by the Commission and approved by the General Assembly, so as to make the application of the post adjustment system more equitable for all staff members whose duty station is Geneva, and to report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-third session;

Invites the executive heads of the organizations of the common system to bring this matter7 to the attention of their governing bodies with a view to considering changes as necessary to their staff regulations and rules;

II.REMUNERATION OF THE GENERAL SERVICE AND OTHER LOCALLY

RECRUITED CATEGORIES OF STAFF

A. Methodologies for surveys of best prevailing conditions of employment

at headquarters and non-headquarters duty stations

Recalling section III of its resolution 47/216 of 23 December 1992, in which it endorsed the reaffirmation by the Commission of the Flemming principle as the basis for determining the conditions of service of the General Service and related categories,

Recalling also section II of its resolution 51/216, in which it requested the Commission, as part of its review of the methodologies for salary setting for staff in the General Service and other locally recruited categories, inter alia:

To resolve, to the extent possible, inconsistencies between the methodologies applied pursuant to the Flemming principle and the one applied pursuant to the Noblemaire principle, inter alia, by examining the question of overlap in remuneration between the two categories,

To study the feasibility of increasing the weight of public-sector employers in the salary surveys at headquarters duty stations,

To submit a report based on the review of the methodologies to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session,

Reaffirms that the Flemming principle should continue to serve as the basis for determining the conditions of service of the General Service and related categories;

Endorses the conclusions of the Commission, and the refinements and modifications to the methodologies set out in paragraphs 126 to 131 of its report,6 noting that the revisions to the methodologies will be implemented as from 1 January 1998;

Notes that, at the conclusion of the next round of headquarters General Service salary surveys, the Commission will continue to review all aspects of the methodologies for salary setting for staff in the General Service and other locally recruited categories;

B. Non-pensionable component

Noting that the review of the non-pensionable component was carried out by the Working Group established by the Commission with the participation of the representatives of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and that the Standing Committee of the Pension Board concurred with the Commission's decisions regarding changes to the procedures used for determining it,

Endorses the modifications decided on by the Commission regarding the various aspects of the non-pensionable component and transitional measures as outlined in paragraph 139 of its report;6

C. Review of the basis for the dependent children's allowance

Noting that the floor amount for the children's allowance for the staff in the General Service and related categories is currently based on 3 per cent of the mid-point of the local salary scale,

Taking note of the views expressed by Member States,

Endorses the conclusions and decisions of the Commission as contained in paragraph 150 of its report;6

Welcomes the intention of the Commission to review this question further in its 1999 work programme;

III.CONDITIONS OF SERVICE APPLICABLE TO ALL CATEGORIES OF STAFF

A. Education grant: review of the methodology for determining

the level of the grant

Recalling section IV of its resolution 47/216 and section IV of its resolution 51/216, in which it endorsed the revised methodology for the determination of the education grant,

Acknowledging that the methodology for determining the level of the education grant introduced in 1992 has functioned reasonably well,

Noting the review of the methodology by the Commission based on the experience of its application during the past three reviews of the level of the grant,

Endorses the modifications to the methodology by the Commission, as contained in paragraph 163 of its report,6 and notes that the revised methodology will be taken into account beginning with the 1998 biennial review of the education grant;

Decides to delegate to the Chairman of the Commission the authority requested in paragraph 164 of the report of the Commission;6

B. Performance management

Recalling section I.C of its resolution 51/216 and its request to the Commission to provide general comments on the concept of performance awards or bonuses to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session,

Recognizing the differing organizational strategies and cultures prevailing in the common system, and considering that a flexible approach to performance management would be desirable,

Welcomes the comprehensive information on performance management provided by the Commission in paragraphs 167 to 219 of its report6 and, in particular, the guidance and recommendations contained in paragraphs 213 and 219;

Decides to consider the report of the Secretary-General on a system of performance awards or bonuses under agenda item 153, entitled "Human resources management";

Invites the executive heads of the organizations of the common system to develop their performance management programmes within the parameters set by the Commission in paragraphs 213 and 219 of its report;6

C. Appointments of limited duration

Recalling section V of its resolution 51/216, in which it requested the Commission to continue its work on the issue of appointments of limited duration without delay,

Endorses the principles and guidelines for the use of appointments of limited duration, and the decisions of the Commission as contained in paragraph 249 of its report;6

D. Standards of travel and per diem

Recalling its decision 51/465 of 3 April 1997, in which it requested the Commission to review, at the earliest opportunity, taking into account the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Joint Inspection Unit, the question of travel entitlements of staff of the common system,

Having considered paragraphs 250 to 276 of the report of the Commission,6

Takes note of the observations of the Commission as contained in paragraph 275 (a) of its report;6

Invites the Commission to continue its consideration of this question;

E. Mission subsistence allowance

Recalling section IV of its resolution 51/218 E of 17 June 1997, in which it requested the Commission to develop a proposal to provide a post allowance and separate maintenance allowance for those personnel who leave their families at their home duty station while they are on mission assignment,

Notes the intention of the Commission to address this matter in 1998, and requests it to submit a report on the question to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session;

F. Staff participation in the work of the Commission

Recalling its resolution 51/216,

Recalls its request to the Coordinating Committee for International Staff Unions and Associations of the United Nations System and the Federation of International Civil Servants' Associations to resume their participation in the work of the Commission in a spirit of cooperation and non-confrontation;

Takes note with appreciation of the progress made in this regard through the establishment by the Commission of the Working Group on the Consultative Process and Working Arrangements, comprising members of the Commission and representatives of the organizations and staff bodies, which will meet in January 1998;

G. New directions in human resources management

Recalling section IX of its resolution 51/216, in which it requested the Commission to take the lead in analysing new approaches in the human resources management field so as to develop standards, methods and arrangements that will respond to the specific needs of the organizations of the common system, and to report to the General Assembly thereon at its fifty-third session,

Welcomes the initiative taken by the Commission to hold a forum on new directions in human resources management in 1997;

Also welcomes the intention of the Commission to submit in 1998 a comprehensive report on new approaches to human resources management;

H. Gender balance in the common system

Recalling section VI of its resolution 47/216, in which it urged the organizations of the common system to introduce a coherent plan for improving the status of women in each organization,

Notes the intention of the Commission to submit in 1998 a report on the representation of women, which will include ways of improving the situation;

Also notes the intention of the Commission to continue to report on a regular basis both on the extent of implementation of previous recommendations in this area and on new initiatives proposed or introduced by the organizations to enhance the status of women in the common system.

Salary scale for the Professional and higher categories showing annual gross salaries

and net equivalents after application of staff assessment*

(United States dollars)

(Effective 1 March 1998)

D = Rate applicable to staff members with a dependent spouse or child.

S = Rate applicable to staff members with no dependent spouse or child.

*This scale will be implemented in conjunction with a consolidation of 3.1 per cent of post adjustment. There will be consequential adjustments in the post adjustment indices and multipliers at all duty stations, effective 1 March 1998. Thereafter, changes in post adjustment classifications will be effected on the basis of the movements of the consolidated post adjustment indices.

Amendments to the Staff Regulations of the United Nations

Regulation 3.3

Replace the second table in paragraph (b) (i) with the following:

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