The necessary rotation of journalists this year meant the replacement of bureau chiefs (EFE’s representatives outside Spain) in six important cities: Brussels, Paris, London, La Paz, Rome and Sao Paulo. In 2021, there will be new bureau chiefs in Cairo, Washington, Tokyo, New York, Beijing, Puerto Rico and Jerusalem. EFE has a workforce of 1.123 employees.
The offices that have experienced a change of bureau chief in 2021 are: Rome, Washington, Tokyo, New York, Puerto Rico, Havana, Rabat, Beijing, Bogota editing desk, Sao Paulo, Santiago (bureau chief left in 2021 and replaced in 2022), La Paz, Teheran (correspondent), Jerusalem, Cairo and Asunción (bureau chief left in 2021 and replaced in 2022).
The total number of employees in 2021 was 1.123 (according to the Non-Financial Information Report).
During 2021, collective bargaining was strengthened with agreements for the Professional Profile Renewal Plan, pending authorization, which will allow the incorporation of new talent with digital skills and an adjustment in personnel costs, guaranteeing stable employment and the sustainability of Agencia EFE. An agreement for Agencia EFE’s first Remote Work Plan was also reached with the workers legal representatives, a hybrid in-person and remote work system, with the aim of improving the efficiency of the news service and the work-life balance for employees. Negotiations for a more modern, flexible and efficient labor structure began in 2021 with the aim of reaching a new collective bargaining agreement in 2022 to replace the one signed more than a decade ago.
For the first time in 10 years, Agencia EFE reached an agreement to amend the Collective bargaining agreement to create a professional profile renewal plan.
The Renewal Plan will:
Agencia EFE is among the first state-owned companies to reach an agreement with workers' representatives for a Remote Work Plan adapted to new regulations and guaranteeing the efficiency and quality of the service.
The agency's management has negotiated an advanced Digital Disconnect Policy to be approved in the first months of 2022.
The Professional Senior Journalist Promotion processes have resumed after being blocked since 2019 due to legal disputes.
In 2022, negotiations for the complete overhaul and modernization of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, in force since 2010 and obsolete in many aspects, will resume.
This modification will allow a general reorganization of the use of space at EFE's headquarters for improved efficiency and savings.
To contribute to the improvement of the environment, during 2021, the General Services Management/ Prevention Service replaced conventional lighting with 34 LED lighting fixtures, a total of 30 kg of hazardous waste and 12 kg of non-hazardous waste were removed by authorized waste handlers, and waste separation was promoted by installing specific containers for paper, packaging and organic waste. To promote a preventive culture, information campaigns have been carried out, 44 new workers have been provided with information on health and safety risks and all workers have been provided with information on action protocols and safety and prevention measures for COVID19. Finally, with the aim of improving prevention management in the company, a pre-audit of the Prevention Management System was carried out.
