08.21.19
Gemini version available ♊︎Guest Post: António Campinos’ European Patent Office Redefines Modern Slavery in the Heart of Europe in 2019
One year ago: ‘Efficiency’ in Action: António Campinos is Sending Jobs Abroad, Then Gagging Critics
Summary: The European Patent Office’s (EPO) President António Campinos — like his predecessor Battistelli — emulates Chinese labour practices
Always wanted a Knochenjob for a handful of peanuts in expensive Holland? The European Patent Office makes your dream come true!
€10/hour and not even a full time job, wow. Think of all the things (e.g. a decent health care, a pension, a decent flat, a car, holidays etc.) the successful candidate will never be able to get! Thanks to that very job, not only will his/her carbon footprint be drastically reduced but he/she will directly contribute to the wealth of an international organisation making hundreds of millions € profit every year!
“Thanks to that very job, not only will his/her carbon footprint be drastically reduced but he/she will directly contribute to the wealth of an international organisation making hundreds of millions € profit every year!”This appalling job vacancy illustrates the wonderful world of Elodie Bergot, the lady in charge of HR policies at EPO.
Besides the social aspects which do not have to be elaborated upon since everyone can understand how bad life may be with such kind of job, this vacancy calls for two questions: how loyal do you think a worker paid €10/hour on a part-time job can be? How secure can it be to have patent applications worth millions (if not billions) EUR all over the place together with poorly paid IT staff?
“How secure can it be to have patent applications worth millions (if not billions) EUR all over the place together with poorly paid IT staff?”What is António Campinos, an ex-EU top official from Brussels (ex-head of EUIPO in Alicante) doing since he arrived at EPO?
Does this illustrates Campinos’ social values, Campinos’ concrete contribution to economic and social growth in Europe at a time when 100 million people risk poverty or social exclusion?
To quote the EU’s site:
In 2017, 112.8 million people in the EU lived in households at risk of poverty or social exclusion; 22.4 % of the population.

16.9 % of the population in the EU were at risk of poverty after social transfers in 2017.

9.5 % of the population aged 0-59 years in the EU lived in households with very low work intensity in 2017.

In 2017, 6.6 % of the population in the EU were severely materially deprived.
Editor’s note: Put the numbers together; €10/hour and 20 hours per week is a gross income of €200/week, which can barely pay the utility bills, cover food expenses and secure decent accommodation. Meanwhile, Battistelli's crazy gambling has cost the EPO about €100,000,000 a year (if not more). █
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