UNITED NATSONS AT Administrative Tribunal Distr. LIMITED AT/DEC/478 18 May 1990 ORIGINAI,: ENGLISH case No. 517: SuNnmAM Aviatim Organizatim mEAlx4INI~I OF ?HE UNITED NRI'ICNS, CmposedofMr.JemmeAckeman, Vice-mident,viding; I&. Framisco A. Ebrteza;Mr. IoanVoicut Libras, on 22 June 1989, Sylvia Sundamn, astaffmenbrofthe ~ti~Civi~Aviationorganizati~,hereinafter~~toas I-, filed an amicatian, the pleas of which read as follows Y3ection II - Pleas IlLqlesttha~ a) b) c) W thedecisionofthe Lizcmeq- of Icm (...) dated 26 January 1989 not to grant depesrdlency bnefits in regardtonly~berescinded; thedecisionofthe m dated 1 May 1989 (a..) m3t to grant any zEtma&im and future cypEmwq benefitstorneinregadtomyhusbandberescuded : themofImbeorderedtopay C@xMemybenefitstomeinrespectofmyh~ lLetm&ivelyfarthem periodalluwedunderthe Rules of the organization: m~ofI~beorderedtoaontirmeto paydqeMemybenefitstomeinmspectofmyhusbaM frcm 1 Jamary 1989." -2- ta . . . thetotalgross&aryfrcan~~beforearrytax deducti~orobligatory~~ons . . . j.mxalefmcsther isource (e.g. pmsion,annuities, rental inccane, iwe&mdZ iname,grants,scholarships,etc)isnotincl~in~ 'oazupational ealdngs'." whereasthefactsinthecaseareasfollcYGds: TbeA@kanthasbeenmpluyedbyICA0since1Manh1%1. She cumentlyholdsapemmenta~intnmtatthe Generalservice,o-8level, asaFxzwmelClerkinthelk&nicalAssistanceBureau. Sheismarriedto ulittur s. slmdamm, aformerstaffmrdxerofICAO,andarecipientof a ~i~frrnntheUnitedNatiansJoint~fPerr;ioolFund(~~). InaCmar Mammdum dated 31 May 1988, the Admhistration amomcedtosWffinmceiptofa~ spousealluwance,the requim to qualify for the allmance andtheadministrative~ to be followed in oder to file a claim therefor. In aandame with ICAD Staff Fkgulation 3.7: II . . . 1. AdepemWkspouseshallbeaspouseWhoseoccUpatiCmal eamings,ifany,inanycalendaryearforwhiChm mltit&mentiscl~,donot~the1~entrylevel 0ftheunitedNationsGeneral Semiceg3msssalaryscales a~~cabletotheplaceof~~ofthestaff~'s spcruse II . . . . -3- footnuke (d) of the attachment to the Circular Memorandum, *'only occupational earnings areamsideredindeterminingdependemystatus". Shenutedthat shewas"unaware thatpensionbenefitswerenotconsideredas linccme'll and regue&edretmactivepaymntoftheallowance %n a retroactive basis up to themaximmpennissibletim period". In a reply dated 11 July 1988, the Chief, PemomelBranch,am paymentofthespauseallowance from 31 May 1988 only, the date of the Circular~~inwhid.l"a~~finitionof~ti~earnings adopted by the Organization effective 31 May 1988 and sm any previousdef~tianorinterplretatiangiventOthewordoccupatianal earnings of Staff Regulation 3.7" had been given. On 23 August 1988, the Applicant asked the Chief, ~ersomel Ekanch, toreconsiderhisdecisionnottopayheraspauseall~~ance lzxztmactively. She aquedessentiallythatthe Staff Regulations and-es refer to occupationaleamings arxlthattheclarificationcontained intheCircular Mmmandmhadnotchangedtheintentoftherulesitself. InareplydaW16 lIksWer 1988, the Chief, Persome Branch, informedtkreAFqplicantthatthequestianofdefiningoccupational~ hadbeenreviewedandthe Semetaq-Generalhaddecided, on 7 -1988, 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be related to an employment dispute between an individual and an international organization, specifically the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The dispute revolves around the interpretation of rules and regulations regarding spousal benefits and occupational earnings. The text mentions various administrative procedures, staff regulations, and circular memoranda, indicating that the context is related to employment and benefits within an international organization.

**Category**
Employment