The term common system is shorthand for the United Nations
common system of salaries, allowances and other conditions of
service . Its origin can be traced to the relationship
agreements concluded between the United Nations and the
specialized agencies. While the wording of these agreements
varies, most of them carry language to the effect that it is
agreed to develop common personnel standards, methods and
arrangements designed to avoid serious discrepancies in terms
and conditions of employment, to avoid competition in
recruitment of personnel and to facilitate the interchange of
personnel .
The common system was intended to prevent competition
among the organizations in staff recruitment and to facilitate
exchange of staff. Other rationales for a common system
include:
- Efficiency/economy of scale: central maintenance of salary
scales and allowance schedules means far fewer resources have
to be deployed for these purposes in each organization;
- Equity/fairness: morale can be jeopardized when staff
working side by side have different conditions of service -- a
uniform approach lessens such dissatisfaction;
- Cost-efficiency/control: for the Member States, a common
set of employment conditions permits an overview of staff
costs.
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