STANDING CONCERTATION COMMMITTEE - ORDINARY MEETING ON 28 AUGUST 2007

The main items discussed at the meeting of the Standing Concertation Committee on 28 August 2007 included:

Administrative Circular No. 12 A (Rev. 1) - Education Fees

The committee agreed to recommend Administrative Circular No. 12 A, Education Fees, to the Director-General for approval. The circular is applicable to staff, fellows and scientific associates recruited before 1 January 2007 (except for local staff). Administrative Circular No. 12 B applies to those recruited from 1 January 2007 and was considered by the committee in June 2007. It was noted that, at the initiative of HR Department, a number of important simplifications have been introduced. These cover in particular lump sum payments to compensate for accommodation, meals and journey expenses. Further details of payment of education fees will shortly be available in the form of Frequently Asked Questions on the HR Department website. The Chairman thanked HR Department as well as "Team 7" members for initiating these simplifications.

Education fees - Indexation of accommodation and meals: in the context of education fees and the revised Administrative Circulars, the committee approved the indexation calculations for accommodation and meals for the academic year 2007-2008. Following the introduction of lump sum payments, accommodation costs for the academic year 2007-2008 will be compensated at 500 CHF per month (paid at 100%). The amount used for the calculation of payment of meals will be 17.50 CHF per meal (paid at 75%).

Administrative Circular No. 4 (Rev. 4) - Unemployment Insurance Scheme

The committee agreed to recommend Administrative Circular No. 4 (Rev. 4), Unemployment Insurance Scheme, to the Director-General for approval. It was noted that the main features of the unemployment scheme remain essentially unchanged. However, under the revised circular, payment of unemployment benefits to those receiving a retirement pension or total invalidity benefits is specifically excluded. The circular also takes account of the infant allowance, introduced on 1 January 2007. Like the family allowance and the child allowance, the infant allowance will continue to be paid when a former staff member receives CERN unemployment benefits.

Administrative Circular No. 30 (Rev. 2) - Financial benefits on taking up appointment and termination of contract

The committee agreed to recommend Administrative Circular No. 30 (Rev. 2), Financial benefits on taking up appointment and termination of contract, to the Director-General for approval. This circular has been revised to take account of the results of the Five-Yearly Review of CERN Employment Conditions: e.g. changes to the conditions relating to travel expenses for staff recruited from 1 January 2007 and travel expenses for students. Further details will shortly be available in the form of Frequently Asked Questions on the HR Department website.

by HR Department