Occasional Recuperational Break
Encyclopedia
Occasional Recuperational Break (ORB) is an entitlement for United Nations
staff serving in hardship locations. It is similar to the "Rest and Recuperation" (R&R) mechanism offered by some specialized United Nations
agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme and some other international organizations.
is not allowed to introduce any entitlement inconsistent with those approved by the General Assembly
, the legal bases for the instruction are contained in the staff rules, which are indeed approved by the General Assembly.
Under such legislation, ORB therefore exists for eligible SMs in compliance with and under the staff rules, and has to be understood in the context of rule 205.3 on “Special Leave” as a period of Special Leave with Full Pay (SLWFP), granted under rule 205.3 (a) (i), which states that “In exceptional cases, the Secretary-General may, at his or her initiative, place an individual on special leave with full pay if he or she considers such leave to be in the interest of the Organization”.
Within this scope, the United Nations
has thus introduced ORB, defined as “a five-day special leave with full pay … away from the mission area”, whereby "mission area" means "country" except in special cases. These provisions are granted in the interest of the Organization, i.e. “in order to protect … the health and well-being [of SMs], and to ensure optimal work performance…”.
serving in hardship locations, and its frequency varies depending on the location, for example:
This results in a situation where staff are often outside the country on ORB, in addition to their usual entitlement to annual leave (30 working days per year), as well as any official travel.
system, that is to say, between the Secretariat and agencies. But furthermore, the ORB entitlement also varies within Secretariat entities. For example, while staff of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations
don't receive any money towards ORB travel, the staff of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
receive a sum towards the cost of the ticket to visit their chosen ORB location, but not higher than the cost of travel to a nearby location approved for ORB travel.
There are strong currents within the system, to harmonize the ORB as well as other entitlements.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
staff serving in hardship locations. It is similar to the "Rest and Recuperation" (R&R) mechanism offered by some specialized United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme and some other international organizations.
Legal grounds
The specific and detailed provisions on ORB are contained in an administrative instruction.. However, since the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
is not allowed to introduce any entitlement inconsistent with those approved by the General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, the legal bases for the instruction are contained in the staff rules, which are indeed approved by the General Assembly.
Under such legislation, ORB therefore exists for eligible SMs in compliance with and under the staff rules, and has to be understood in the context of rule 205.3 on “Special Leave” as a period of Special Leave with Full Pay (SLWFP), granted under rule 205.3 (a) (i), which states that “In exceptional cases, the Secretary-General may, at his or her initiative, place an individual on special leave with full pay if he or she considers such leave to be in the interest of the Organization”.
Within this scope, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
has thus introduced ORB, defined as “a five-day special leave with full pay … away from the mission area”, whereby "mission area" means "country" except in special cases. These provisions are granted in the interest of the Organization, i.e. “in order to protect … the health and well-being [of SMs], and to ensure optimal work performance…”.
Practice
The entitlement to ORB arises for staff of the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
serving in hardship locations, and its frequency varies depending on the location, for example:
- In IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, every four weeks. - In DarfurDarfurDarfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
and AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, every six weeks. - In KhartoumKhartoumKhartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, every eight weeks. - In N'djamenaN'DjamenaN'Djamena is the capital and largest city of Chad. A port on the Chari River, near the confluence with the Logone River, it directly faces the Cameroonian town of Kousséri, to which the city is connected by a bridge. It is also a special statute region, divided in 10 arrondissements. It is a...
and other places of lower hardship, every twelve weeks.
This results in a situation where staff are often outside the country on ORB, in addition to their usual entitlement to annual leave (30 working days per year), as well as any official travel.
Criticism
Entitlements vary widely across the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
system, that is to say, between the Secretariat and agencies. But furthermore, the ORB entitlement also varies within Secretariat entities. For example, while staff of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Department of Peacekeeping Operations
The Department of Peacekeeping Operations is a department of the United Nations which is charged with the planning, preparation, management and direction of UN peacekeeping operations.-History of the DPKO:...
don't receive any money towards ORB travel, the staff of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Ocha
Ocha is a genus of moth in the family Lasiocampidae....
receive a sum towards the cost of the ticket to visit their chosen ORB location, but not higher than the cost of travel to a nearby location approved for ORB travel.
There are strong currents within the system, to harmonize the ORB as well as other entitlements.