Salaries and benefits

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The information below relates to the salaries and benefits package for officials, temporary agents, and contract agents at EMSA.

Salary

Basic salaries are paid in line with a salary scale for each grade, divided into several steps. The final salary is calculated by adding the relevant allowances, deducting social security contributions and other taxes. The salary is weighted to reflect the cost of living in Portugal compared to Belgium and is adjusted each year in line with inflation and purchasing power in the EU countries.

Expatriation or foreign residence allowance

You may be entitled to an expatriation (16% of basic salary) or foreign residence allowance (4% of basic salary). This depends on your nationality and whether/how long you have been living in Portugal before you join EMSA.

Allowances

In addition to your basic salary, you may be entitled to various allowances, which are paid in full or paid with a deduction of the national allowances received. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be entitled to the following allowances:

Household allowance - If you are married and/or have children you might be eligible for this allowance.
Dependent-child allowance - if you have a child, you receive a dependent child allowance until your child is 18 years old. If the child pursues further education the allowance may continue up to a maximum of 26 years of age
Pre-school allowance- If you have a child of a pre-school age you may receive this allowance. This allowance is paid in addition to the dependent child allowance and stops when your child is at least 5 years of age and starts primary school.
Education allowance and/or support with educational costs. In some cases, the possibility exists of direct payment of school fees in accordance with EMSA’s social measure and Administrative Agreements with certain international schools in the Lisbon area. The Agency is pursuing the goal of having an Accredited European School in Lisbon.
Expatriation or foreign residence allowance - You may be entitled to an expatriation (16% of basic salary) or foreign residence allowance (4% of basic salary). This depends on your nationality and whether/how long you have been living in Portugal before you join EMSA.
Shift work allowance - If you work shifts for EMSA continuously, you are entitled to a shift work allowance.

Social security contributions & tax deductions

EMSA staff members pay a community tax at source and contribute to health insurance, accident insurance, EU pension scheme and unemployment insurance.

Health and accident insurance

EMSA staff are covered by the Community Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS). The total contribution is 1.8% (1.7% sickness and 0.1% accident) of the basic salary. You are covered worldwide, 24 hours a day, from your first working day against sickness, hospitalisation, medical costs in relation to pregnancy and accident and occupational disease. You have a free choice of medical practitioner worldwide. Up to 85% of the costs are reimbursed, depending on the treatment and within ceilings. Spouses and children can also be covered for sickness insurance under certain conditions, but not for accident insurance.

Pension scheme

You will be a member of the EU pension scheme throughout your service. The employee contribution is 10.1% of the basic salary. EMSA makes an additional two thirds contribution. Per year of service, you acquire a pension right of 1.8% of your basic salary, 70% is the maximum you can achieve. A retirement pension is granted to staff completing a minimum of 10 years combined service in the Agency or other Community Institutions, provided that they have reached pensionable age (66 years). No minimum period is required when the age of normal retirement has been reached whilst in service. There is the possibility to transfer in pension rights acquired with other national schemes. Should you leave the service prior to the 10 years’ service, you will need to request the transfer out of the rights acquired with the EU into another scheme.

Unemployment insurance

The total contribution is 0.81% of the basic salary.

Income tax

Income tax is levied progressively at a rate of between 8% and 45% of the taxable portion of your salary. A special levy (6%) is calculated on the part of the remuneration exceeding the minimum remuneration. Your salary is exempt from Portuguese tax. For more information please see the protocol on the immunities of the European Union.

Settling in Lisbon entitlements

In some cases, there are additional entitlements to support you taking up duties in Lisbon. These can include:

Daily subsistence allowance for a limited period of days.

The allowance is intended to offset the costs and inconvenience caused by the need to move or take up temporary residence in Lisbon (i.e. before you complete your removal from your place of recruitment).

The amount of daily subsistence allowance is:

€44.28 per day for staff members who are not entitled to the household allowance;

€35.71 per day for staff members who are entitled to the household allowance.

The period that the allowance is granted for is:

A maximum of 120 days for those employed for a period of at least one year, who are not entitled to receive the household allowance;

A maximum of 180 days for those employed for a period of at least one year, who are entitled to the household allowance. If entitled to the household allowance, as a probationer, the daily subsistence allowance is granted for the period of probation plus one month.

Contract staff engaged for a period of less than one year will receive the allowance for the duration of their contract up to a maximum of one year.

The allowance is not paid beyond the date on which you effectively move your household to your place of employment.

Installation allowance, which is a one off payment to help you to settle down in Lisbon. This allowance is paid on presentation of proof of installation (i.e. long term rental agreement or deeds of a property). Depending on the employment contract duration, between one third of the basic salary and one full basic salary, weighted to Lisbon, is paid for staff members not entitled to household allowance. For staff members entitled to the household allowance this could be doubled.
Removal expenses of your personal belongings

If you have a contract for a minimum of one year you are entitled to reimbursement of expenses of your removal costs. The removal covers furniture, personal effects and the cost of insurance against ordinary risks up to the limit of an estimate approved in advance.

Travel expenses to take up functions in Lisbon. EMSA will reimburse the travel expenses for you, your spouse and dependent children (actually living in your household) upon taking up duties based on supporting documents.