Temporary Agents

Free conference: Contract Agents career & Review of the Temporary Staff decision

*Update 02.12.2024* Here are the recording and the presentation 1 and 2.  Do you need clarification concerning the career of Contract Agents? Would you like to learn more about the career duration and current options available for advancement? Have you heard about the 7-year rule and ever wondered what it implies in practice and how it has been recently applied?

Continue reading Free conference: Contract Agents career & Review of the Temporary Staff decision

Challenges of unpaid leave for contract agents 

Are you a contract agent or temporary agent who needs time off and annual leave is not enough? Are you considering applying for unpaid leave? Or perhaps you have submitted a request that was denied? Based on feedback from our members, we are examining the complexities surrounding unpaid leave for personal reasons. 

Continue reading Challenges of unpaid leave for Contract Agents 

Longer and sustainable careers for contracts agents 

*Update 21.11.2024 check out the European Court of Auditors, 2024, Special report 24/2024EU Civil service–A flexible employment framework, insufficiently used to improve workforce management: it concludes that ‘While the recruitment of temporary staff has proven an effective and flexible way to deal with the shortage of successful candidates on EPSO reserve lists, it carries some risks for business continuity and knowledge management, and as such cannot be a viable long-term solution‘ (Paragraph 100)*

Continue reading Longer and sustainable careers for contracts agents 

End of service: IT access

This topic came out of our October sessions on pensions but the information is applicable to anyone leaving the Commission whether that’s at the end of a contract, to retire or for several other reasons. According to your circumstances, you might need access to the IT systems  to submit medical costs, to get certificates or to manage the EU unemployment allowance[1]. Continue reading End of service: IT access

JRC event: pension rights

*** Update: You can find the presentation of the conference here. ***

Generation 2004 would like to invite you to a conference for staff in JRCs sites  dedicated to the topic:  ‘Everything you always wanted to know about Pensions rights’.

This conference will follow the regular Lunchtime conference on Pensions Transfer Out, the two events are independent, but together will give a wide overlook on Pensions rights in the European Commission. Continue reading JRC event: pension rights

Unemployment fund in top shape: Will non-permanent staff contributions decrease?

Did you know that every 2 years the Commission is expected to present a report on the financial situation of the EU unemployment insurance scheme? The last one issued in February 2024 covers the period between 2017 and 2022. You might find it interesting… 

EU unemployment fund: for whom and on what terms? 

The EU unemployment allowance is intended for former temporary agents (TA), Contract Agents (CA), or accredited parliamentary assistants (APAs) following termination of their service with a European Union institution. Continue reading Unemployment fund in top shape: Will non-permanent staff contributions decrease?

Social security fairness for non-permanent staff

***Update 30.07.2024 DG HR position on the payment of unemployment insurance by CAs on permanent (‘indeterminate duration’) contracts (3A)***
Generation2004 believes that the regulation governing social security contributions and pensions can be tricky, to say the least. Unlike officials, contract and temporary agents find themselves subject to additional deductions labelled as CCA ‘Unemployment insurance (personal contribution)’ code on their payslip, referring specifically to unemployment insurance Continue reading Social security fairness for non-permanent staff

Securing pensions for Contract & Temporary Agents during unemployment

Your Contract Agent CA3B (or a different non-permanent) contract at the European Commission has ended. Despite your determination to continue contributing to the EU project, you can no longer work directly for the Commission (e.g. you have reached six years as CA3B).  You can work for another institution or for the Commission,  but on a different contract than CA3B.

Continue reading Securing pensions for Contract & Temporary Agents during unemployment

Empowering contract agents: Generation 2004 calls for amendments to 7- year rule

***Update 17.07.2024 DG HR position on the application of the 7-year rule.***
We would like to inform you that following your numerous and regular questions
concerning the 7-year rule (originally 6-year rule)[1] which applies to Contract Agents (CA) 3B, we submitted an official note to the administration requesting clarification on its application and ultimately the extension of the 7-year rule by 3 additional years.  The rationale behind this request is clear, but we know that 10 years is generally avoided since this is the threshold for entitlement to an EU pension.

Continue reading Empowering contract agents: Generation 2004 calls for amendments to 7- year rule

One step forward in our fight: internal competition for AST & AST/SC (+training offer)

*Update 23.05.2024, COM/AST3/2024 competition exam date will be June 5, 2024. Enrolment on COM AST3 training with follow up sessions are closed. Registration for the self-study option is still open.  *Update 02.05.2024 COM/AST3/2024 indicative planning has been updated, but still not precise enough to allow for holiday planning. Continue reading One step forward in our fight: internal competition for AST & AST/SC (+training offer)