The International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) concluded its one hundred and second session in Vienna, Austria, on 24 July 2026, following ten days of deliberations on key issues relating to the conditions of service of staff across the United Nations common system.
The principal outcome of the session was the completion of the comprehensive review of the compensation package within the timeframe established by the General Assembly. Reflecting several years of analytical work and extensive deliberations by the Commission and its three working groups, the review marks a significant milestone in the Commission’s work. It was conducted on the premise of overall cost containment and sustainability, while preserving the agreed criteria of competitiveness and flexibility of the compensation package. It was guided by the objectives established by the General Assembly, namely effective mandate delivery, flexibility, attractiveness, coherence, transparency, cost-effectiveness, stability and predictability. In finalizing its recommendations, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the compensation framework across the United Nations common system remains equitable, competitive, and responsive to the evolving needs of organizations and staff.
Pursuant to the request contained in resolution 80/236 A-B of the General Assembly, the Commission also considered a preliminary analysis of the potential impact of any revision of the parameters of the margin management methodology. Given the scope of the review, the results were proposed to be reported to the Assembly at its eighty-third session. Pending the outcome of the review, the Commission recommended that the Assembly maintain the net remuneration for staff in the Professional and higher categories in New York at its current level until 31 December 2028. If the Assembly approves this recommendation, maintenance of the purchasing power parity across all duty stations will be achieved through the operation of the post adjustment system.
In addition, the Commission considered a wide range of issues relating to the conditions of service of staff in the United Nations common system, launch of the 2026 round of surveys, implementation of the pilot project on salary survey methodologies, and the results of surveys of the best prevailing conditions of employment in New York for the General Service and Security Service categories, the standards of conduct for the international civil service, as requested by the General Assembly, and monitored the implementation of decisions and recommendations of both the Commission and the General Assembly.
The International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) will hold its next (one hundred and third) session in New York from 22 March to 2 April 2027.
Posted on 28 July 2026
