Welcome to our eighth newsletter edition. In this edition, we invite you to join an inspiring lunchtime conference with a guest speaker, [1] and we highlight key staff concerns: mobility for Contract Agents 3a [2], equal recognition for language exams [3], and the shortcomings of multiple-choice tests [4]. We also share our practical guide to preparing for competitions [5], shed light on what staff representatives actually do [6], and revisit the debate on teleworking from abroad [7]. Finally, we take a critical look at the Commission’s so-called “modernisation [8]” and what it might really mean for staff.
That’s all for now!
Enjoy the reading and get in touch if you believe we can help!
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Contract Agents (CAs) were created by the 2004 staff regulations Reform. There are two types of CA: those with unlimited contracts, 3A [9] (‘indefinite’) and those with time-limited contracts [10], 3B [11]. CAs can belong to 4 different function groups (\'GF\') with different responsibilities and salaries [12].
As the use of contract staff becomes increasingly common, there has been a corresponding increase in the diversity of status and pay of the Commission’s workforce. For example, GFIV contract staff meeting the same minimum recruitment requirements (education and experience) as junior administrators may earn 28 % less. (European Court of Auditors, 2019, Special report no 15/2019 [13]: Implementation of the 2014 staff reform package at the Commission – Big savings but not without consequences for staff, point 61, page 34)
We have a working group dedicated to the dossier, and in December 2012 we addressed the first of many letters (\'notes\') about Contract Agents to Human Resources of all Institutions and agencies [14] (here is the cover e-mail [15]).
As a background you can see the report of the Commission to the Council regarding the recruitment of the contract agents in 2010 [16] (in French, COM(2011)802 final 23.11.2011).
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