annUaL rEporT 2008 - Česká rafinérská, as

Main partners for execution of the research program were VŠCHT Prague, ÚPM Prague,
VUANCH (research facility of the Shareholder UNIPETROL) and Euron (research facility of
the Shareholder Eni). The following areas were covered in co-operation with these partners:
- Crude essays
- Semi-blowing road bitumens with visbreaking residue content.
- Testing of desulphurization and hydrocracking catalysts.
- Study of properties and processing of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products for
alternative motor fuels.
- Technological and economic evaluation of alternative motor fuels.
- Detailed characteristics of heavy FCC gasoline and light cycle oil.
Training in 2008 followed certain educational plans and development projects, which were in
place in the Company, including provision of distance studies in cooperation with the
detached branch of the Institute of Chemical Technology (VŠCHT) in Most. The Company
also applied some EU funds to finance a portion of its employee training.
Human Resources and labour relations
The situation in the area of human resources was consolidated in the course of 2008, with the
turnover rate pushed to a very low level in the long perspective. It remains a priority to keep
high-quality employees, while recruiting new school leavers from technical and chemistry
branches. The system of assessment of the performance of employees and the determination
of their goals contains a firmly fixed relationship between employee performance and reviews
of their wages and salaries.
In 2008, as part of the implementation of the Company human resources strategy, the policy
of the optimisation of the composition of the labour force continued to be applied, with stress
laid on the development of human resources. The strategic plan determined certain guidelines
regarding the number of the labour force, which were turned into annual plans of the numbers
of human resources. Several measures were completed in 2008 so the required indicator was
exceeded.
Also within its human resources strategy, the Company implemented, for the second time,
some charity projects based on the voluntary participation. This contributes to the aspect of
the corporate social responsibility of the Company in respect to its surroundings.
Employee benefits in kind have been offered as a part of a flexible benefits scheme. These
have been regularly upgraded with the goal of meeting the requirements of the employees as
much as possible. The system of benefits in kind contributes to employee stabilisation. Broad
measures in promoting health, including the Health Promotion Programme, certain
arrangements contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as well as above-standard
periodical medical checks also contributed to low sickness rates, which were kept below 2%
in 2008.
The Company further introduced stricter measures against smoking within the manufacturing
premises.
ANNUAL REPORT ČESKÁ RAFINÉRSKÁ, a.s., 2008 10