statute. I ... A/C. 5/38/SR. 41 English Page 9 (Mr. Boushev, Bulgaria) 41. The main topic in the report of ICSC was the consideration of the various aspects of conditions of service, which emcompassed both conditions of work and living conditions. Conditions of service in many ways determined the performance of staff at all duty stations. However, it should not be forgotten that the point of view from which those conditions were scrutinized was the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, as prescribed in Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter. That consideration seemed to be overlooked in the report of ICSC and there was sometimes the impression that the cart had been put before the horse and that the methods and criteria for assessing and increasing the efficiency of the staff were subordinated to questions of remuneration, subsidies and grants. Only in chapter VIII of the report was there a more or less explicit mention of specific measures aimed at increasing efficiency. 42. His delegation would like to know whether ICSC shared the view of FICSA (A/C.S/38/23, para. 22) that "a loss in purchasing power" and "failure to adjust salaries" were closely related to the "threat to the efficiency of the secretariats because of the declining morale and increasing recruitment and retention difficulties". Those were very strong assertions which should be voiced with great caution1 they had to be proved, since, if they were correct, ICSC should recommend immediate measures. The mere fact that declining morale had been mentioned in the Fifth Co1runittee at several recent sessions was very alarming. The symptoms of declining morale should be studied without delay and the necessary measures taken to rectify the situation. 43. The Chairman of ICSC had stated that salaries were a burning issue. That was 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the conditions of service for staff, including salaries, remuneration, and subsidies, and how they relate to the efficiency and morale of the staff. It also mentions the consideration of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and the Federation of International Civil Servants Associations (FICSA) on these issues. This suggests that the text is related to employment and the management of international organizations.

**Category**
Employment