STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA
BY MINISTER MARCELO SUAREZ SALVIA OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF ARGENTINA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 136: UNITED NATIONS COMMON SYSTEM, AT THE MAIN PART OF THE SIXTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Mr. Chairman,
1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 136, entitled "United Nations common system".
2. The Group wishes to thank Mr. Kingston Rhodes, Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and Mr Collen Kelapile, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for introducing the reports of the Commission and the Advisory Committee on this agenda item.
3. We would also like to thank Mr. Lionel Berridge, Acting Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, for presenting the Secretary-General's report, and also Mr. Mauro Pace, President of the Federation of International Civil Servant's Association, Mr. Ridha Zargouni, President of the Coordinating Committee for International Staff Unions and Associations of the United Nations System, and Mr. Claude Jumet, Vice-President of the United Nations International Civil Servants' Federation, for their statements.
Mr. Chairman,
4. The Group of 77 and China would like to reaffirm its support to the ICSC, and would like to express our appreciation to the Commission for its commendable work in fulfilling its responsibilities as mandated by the General Assembly. We take note of the report and recommendations of the ICSC which had been prepared in consultation with all interested parties, including representatives of Agencies, Funds and Programmes.
5. The Group also supports a common system approach under the auspices of the ICSC in the development and application of conditions of service, and the principle that all staff serving under similar conditions should receive equal treatment across the United Nations common system.
6. The Group of 77 and China stresses the importance of providing recognition to all staff serving under the UN common system. Most staff are keen to belong to the Organisation because they believe in its goals and objectives and want to be part of a good cause. Hence, we believe that we have a responsibility to provide them with a well-deserved and respectable remuneration package, with enough incentives and allowances to enable them to perform their work efficiently and effectively amidst ongoing challenges. In that regard, he Group support the ICSC's recommendation on the adjustment of the current base/floor salary scale for staff in the professional and higher categories, the proposed increase of 2.5 % in hardship allowance, mobility allowance and non-removal allowance, the danger pay, the implementation of the 2010 place-to-place survey results and the approved changes to hardship reclassification system. The Group of 77 and China also appreciates the various ICSC's inputs contained in its report, in particular those related to geographical representation, gender balance and diversity policies.
7. The Group thus emphasizes that adequate resources should be appropriated during the 66th session of the General Assembly for the full and immediate implementation of the proposals of the ICSC. The Group also welcomes the survey and report on diversity in the United Nations Common System and is ready for detailed discussion on how to formulate more suitable recruitment policies to promote the diversity in the Common System.
Mr. Chairman,
8. The Group of 77 and China assures you of our active participation in the coming informal consultations on this important agenda item.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.