Commission toconsider theleveloftheassignment allowance aspartofits1986 workprogramme. 194.Therepresentative oftheUnitedNations presented adocument prepared byCCAQ concerning theneedforexceptional andadhocfinancial arrangements forstaff serving inLebanon. Theorganizations proposed thatProfessional aswellasother international staffshouldreceive anadhocexceplio~al compensation of$US550 permonth(approximately 20percentofthenetsalaryatP-4,stepV,singlerate) andthatGeneral Ser~ice staffshouldreceive abonusequivalent to20percentof theirnetbasesalary. 195.TheAssistant Secretary ofCCAQintroauced adocument prepared bythe organizations. CCAQnotedthatmobility ofstaffhadbeenoneofthereasons prompting theadoption ofsuchareimbursement. Theorganizations hadconsidered itillogical toreimburse pre-departure expenses fromfielddutystations forstaff reassigned toheadquarters andnotmakereimbursement forthesamestaffinthe -46-• reverse situation. Theorganizations, therefore, suggested thatsuchreimbursementbeapplied alsotoheadquarters dutystations. Atthesame ~imetheorganizationshadagreedtoconform theirpractice andtoceasepayment ofsuchexpenses tostaffwhowereseparating fromservice, thatbeingoneelement thattheybelieved thattheoriginal formulation ofthebenefit hadleftopentointerpretation. inuedits ~field. msona ~tits uniform :ure I), IUpon Iterdegree !s.The :0several ..The inthe d.AS housing peration SC.The re believed he r a needfor na1 he sionthat :>vedby stedthe ts1986 ~dbyCCAQ staff asother ~US550 19lerate) ,centof Ions Isidered forstaff .nthe196.The rep~esentative ofFlCSAreferred torecognition bytheWorking Groupof theneedforamorestructured approach intheconsideration offieldissues, andtheirconclusion thatamethodology mighthinderefforts toimprove conditions.Surveys ofconditions ofservice inthefieldshouldcontinue onaregular basis.Suchsurveys should beflexible enoughtoaccount forthediverse conditions ill different fielddutystations. Theapparent differences intheapplication ofbenefits andallowances, aquestion thattheChairman oflCSChadraised, wereofconcern toFICSAbecause oftheirpossible adverse effectonstaffmorale. FICSAhopedthattheCommission wouldaccepttherecommendations onexceptional finc"','lcialarrangements forstaffserving inLebanon, aswellasontheextension ofthereimbursement ofpre-departure expenses. 197.TheConvenor ofCCISUAsupported thepositions takenbyCCAQandFICSA t)~,t periodic surveys offieldconditions wereuseful, butthataprecise methodo10~Ywaslessdesirable. CCISUAalsosupported theproposals madeinrespect ofpre-departure allowances andforstaffinLebanon. However thepayment ofpre-departure allowances onseparation wasconsidered bythestafftobejustifiedandthepractice should becontinued. Discussion bytheCommission 198.TheCommission welcomed andnotedtheinitiatives takenbytheorganizat~0nstoimprove conditions ofservice inthefield.Italsonotedtheorganizations'attempts toachieve agreater degree ~funiformity inimplementation ofallowancesandbenefits atthefieldlevel. TheCommission expressed itsdispleasure attheinterpretation givenbysomeorganizations toitspromulgated decision, madeinits ninthannual repo~t,!Z/concer~ing reimbursement ofpre-departure expenses. TheCommission recalled thattheissuehadbeendiscussed andtheremedydeveloped inthelightofthespecific needsofcertain fieldlocations where,forexample,therewereconsiderable difficulties concerning theshipment andclearance offreight. Itwasclearly theintention oftheCommission thatthemeasures takenwererelated tostaffproceeding fromonefieldassignment toanother. TheCommission expressed itsconcern fortheconditions ofservice ofstaffcurrentlyworking inLebanon andconcluded thatafurther financial incentive wouldbedesirable. Decisions oftheCommission 199.Inrespect ofpayment ofpre-departure allowancep>, theCommission decided todrawtotheattention oftheorganizations theirreguLarity thathadoccurred intheirinterpretation ottheCommission's decision onsuchreimbursement.Pre-departure expenses werenottobereimbursed uponseparation ofastaffmemberfromservice. TheCommission, furthermore, couldnotagreetoreviewextension of thecurrent schemetocoverlocations otherthaninthefieldinthecontext offieldconditions. TheCommission's secretariat was,however, requested tostudytheneedforpre-departure expenses tobereimbursed atotherdutystations outsidethecontext offieldissuesandtoreportthereon totheCommission. -47-• 200.Concerning thesituation ofstaffserving inLebanon, theCommission
**Analysis**
The text discusses the payment of allowances and reimbursement of expenses for staff serving in Lebanon, which suggests a focus on the welfare and compensation of individuals working in a specific region. The language used is formal and bureaucratic, indicating that the text is likely related to an organization or institution. The topic of pre-departure expenses and allowances for staff suggests that the category may be related to employment or human resources.

**Category**
Employment, Humanitarian aid and relief