Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China wish to thank the Secretary-General for his report A/77/222. The Group also thanks Ambassador Larbi Djacta, Chair of International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, the Director General of ILO, for their briefings on 24th October, 2022 . We also thank the Advisory Committee for introducing their report A/77/531.We also thank the representative of the UN Secretariat for presenting the Secretary-General’s report on the matter under review.

Mr. Chair,

2. The Group notes with appreciation the work of the ICSC and reiterates its commitment to a single, unified United Nations common system and reaffirms the crucial role of the Commission as a cornerstone for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system as stipulated in article 1 paragraph 1 of its statute.

Mr. Chair,

3. It is no secret that the common system is confronted with a challenge in Geneva today due to the judgments of the ILO Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT). It is disconcerting to emphasize that ILO-AT judgments 4134 to 4138 with respect to the implementation of the Geneva Post Adjustment threaten the very existence of the common system as we know it. The Group is perplexed at how the judgment arrived at a ruling that the Commission “did not have the power to decide, by itself, the level of post adjustments for a duty station”. Since its inception in 1975, the ICSC has constantly established post adjustment multipliers for duty stations worldwide in accordance with articles 10 and 11 of its Statute.

4. The Group would like to reiterate its long-standing position and reaffirm the mandate of the Commission to continue to establish post adjustment multipliers under article 11 of the latter’s statute. At the same time, the Group is ready to engage constructively in any discussion that provides further clarification and enhances the statute of the ICSC to continue to deliver, in full independence, its mandate.

5. The Group recognizes the value of the work of the ICSC Task Force as well as that of the Advisory Committee on Post Adjustment Questions. We equally recognize and appreciate the contributions of multiple working groups, collectively and constructively developing proposals on pertinent common system issues for the Commission’s consideration. The Group also wishes to stress the importance of enhanced consultations with stakeholders that help the Commission in reaching its decisions.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.