Structure of categories

(1) The structure of categories of staff applied in the common system results from recommendations of the Flemming Committee of 1949. That Committee, in fact, recommended four categories: (a) General Service, (b) Special Service, (c) Substantive Service, (d) Directors and Principal Officers.

(2) Based on recommendations of the Secretary-General following consideration in CCAQ and ACC, the General Assembly established three categories: (a) General Service, (b) Professional, (c) Director and Principal Officer (see resolution 470(v) of 15 December 1950). Since the conditions of service have been essentially the same for the latter two categories and for the ungraded posts, for practical purposes they have come to be grouped together under the term "Professional and Higher Categories".

(3) The Salary Review Committee of 1956 also considered the desirability of a Special Service Category similar to that proposed by the Flemming Committee, comprising such functions as "Printing and Reproduction, Buildings Management, Purchase and Transportation, Documents and Registry". In the end it recommended an enlarged General Service Category to be known as the Local Service Category. The recommendation was, however, not accepted by the General Assembly.

(4) As part of a general review of the salary and allowance system in 1967, ICSAB, at its 15th session, examined the desirability of creating a separate category for scientific, technical and specialist staff; of dividing the Professional Category into two parts: (a) staff subject to transfer and (b) those not; of creating the Special Service Category proposed by the Flemming Committee; and of establishing a separate category for language staff. For the reasons outlined in its report (ICSAB/XV/1, paras. 96-107) the Board did not recommend any of these changes.

(5) During the examination of the salary and allowance system by the Special Committee of the United Nations Salary System in 1971/72, most executive heads suggested that the two broad categories of staff be converted into an International Service Category (staff assignable anywhere) and a Local Service Category (staff recruited in the locality of any office for service only in that locality). The Committee, however, recommended retention of the existing structure, (Report of the Special Committee, Volume I, paras. 60-77, Supplement No. 28 (A/8728)).

(6) At its Special Session No. 1 (January 1976: CO-ORDINATION/R.1133, para. 5 and Add.1), CCAQ agreed on a draft ACC text for ICSC on the structure of categories and grades (later cleared by correspondence). It expressed the view that there should continue to be two broad categories of staff; that the General Service category should be retained as it was (and not enlarged to a Local Service category); and that there should be no change in the types of posts comprising the Professional category.

(7) In its second annual report (1976: UN document A/31/30, paras. 48 and 99-110), and on the basis of its review of the UN salary system, ICSC concluded that no change should be made in the existing structure of categories.

(8) The situation has remained unchanged since that date; the intervening period has, however, seen the employment in the common system of groups of staff, not separate categories, with conditions of service differing from those of internationally recruited Professional staff. Since such staff (local or national professionals, Associate Experts, Junior Professional Officers) are utilized almost exclusively in the context of development assistance activities, decisions taken in their regard are recorded in Chapter 12 of the Handbook.

(9) At its 12th session (July/August 1980: A/35/30, paras. 260-261), the Commission approved a methodology for distinguishing between Professional level and General Service level work. At its 26th session (July 1987: A/42/30, para. 247), the Commission promulgated a definition of General Service work.

(10) At its 68th session (February-March 1988: ACC/1988/4, paras. 143, 144), CCAQ considered a FICSA communication, transmitted through ICSC, which expressed concern at proposals in UNESCO for the employment of "hybrid" categories of personnel. While the Committee saw no purpose in inviting ICSC to adjudicate in such situations, it agreed to bring the concerns expressed to the Commission's attention.

(11) For discussions aimed at introducing a managerial category at the Director D-1 and D-2 levels and the possible related establishment of a non-managerial P-6 level, see section 2.2, paragraphs 84, 87, 90, 92, 93, 95, 99, 101 and 102.

(12) For discussion of the possibility of introducing a senior executive service, see section 2.2, paragraphs 126 and 128.