ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Polymer Bank Notes of the World

for their current position. On the other hand,staff have to take the necessary steps for learningand development and ensure that their expertiseis maintained at the highest level. In additionto numerous in-house training opportunities,staff continued to take up external trainingopportunities to address individual trainingneeds of a more “technical” nature. They alsobenefited from training opportunities organisedas part of ESCB programmes or offered bythe NCBs.In the context of its secondary training policy,the ECB provided 12 members of staff withsupport to acquire a qualification that wouldincrease their professional competence beyondthe requirements of their current position.RECRUITMENTAt the end of 2008 the actual full-time equivalentnumber of staff holding contracts with the ECBwas 1,536 19 (compared with 1,478 at the endof 2007).External recruitment to fill permanent positionswas carried out on the basis of fixed-termcontracts of five years for managerial positionsand three years for other positions, whichmay be converted into unlimited contracts,subject to organisational considerations andindividual performance. Fixed-term contractsmay also be issued to replace permanent staffwho are temporarily absent for periods ofmore than 12 months, for instance in cases ofparental or unpaid leave. In 2008 the ECBoffered a total of 108 fixed-term contracts. Bycontrast, 45 members of staff with fixed-termor permanent contracts left the ECB in 2008.Furthermore, 113 short-term contracts wereissued during 2008 (in addition to some contractextensions from 2007) to cover for absences ofless than one year, while 83 short-term contractsexpired in the course of the year.The ECB also offers short-term contractsto staff from NCBs and internationalorganisations, thus allowing the ECB andthese organisations to gain from each other’sexperience. Employing NCB staff on ashort-term basis also helps to foster anESCB-wide team spirit. On 31 December 2008122 employees from NCBs and internationalorganisations were working at the ECB onvarious assignments (compared with 91 on31 December 2007).In September 2008 the third intake ofparticipants in the ECB’s Graduate Programme,which is aimed at recent graduates with a broadeducational background, joined the Bank onthe basis of two-year non-convertible contracts.The first generation of participants completedthe Graduate Programme in 2008, and a largenumber of them successfully applied forconvertible fixed-term positions at the ECB.The internship opportunities offered by theECB focused on students and graduates withbackgrounds in economics, statistics, businessadministration, law and translation. On31 December 2008 84 interns were being hostedby the ECB.The ECB also offered two fellowships as partof the Wim Duisenberg Research FellowshipProgramme, which is open to leadingeconomists, and five fellowships to youngresearchers in the context of its LamfalussyFellowship Programme.EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONSTaking into account the most recentdevelopments regarding life expectancyand long-term financing, the ECB has beenconducting a review of the retirement plan itoffers to its staff. The results of this review areexpected to be implemented in early 2009.In 2008 the ECB also started a review of itsdisciplinary and appeals procedures. Thechanges introduced were aimed at increasing theeffectiveness and efficiency of both procedureswhile preserving the rights granted to membersof staff.19 Staff on unpaid leave of absence are excluded. This numberincludes staff with permanent, fixed or short-term contracts andthe participants in the ECB’s Graduate Programme. Staff onmaternity or long-term sick leave are also included.208 ECBAnnual Report2008