Article 57
In exceptional circumstances a member of the temporary staff may at his own request be granted unpaid leave on compelling personal grounds. Article 15 shall continue to apply during the period of unpaid leave on personal grounds. The permission under Article 15 shall not be granted to a member of the temporary staff for the purpose of his engaging in an occupational activity, whether gainful or not, which involves lobbying or advocacy vis-à-vis the Agency and which could lead to the existence or possibility of a conflict with the legitimate interests of the Agency. The AACC shall determine the length of such leave, which shall not exceed one quarter of the length of time already worked by the member of temporary staff or: — three months if the member of temporary staff's seniority is less than four years, — twelve months in all other cases. Any period of leave granted in accordance with the third paragraph shall not count for the purposes of the first paragraph of Article 40(2). While a member of the temporary staff is on unpaid leave his membership of the social security scheme provided for in Article 68 shall be suspended. However, a member of the temporary staff who is not gainfully employed may, not later than one month following that in which unpaid leave begins, apply to continue to be covered against the risks referred to in Article 68, provided that he bears half the cost of the contributions provided for in that Article for the duration of his leave; the contribution shall be calculated by reference to his last basic salary. Moreover, a member of the temporary staff who proves that he cannot acquire pension rights under another pension scheme may apply to continue to acquire further pension rights throughout the period of unpaid leave, provided that he bears the cost of a contribution equal to three times the rate laid down in Article 90; the contributions shall be calculated by reference to the basic salary for his grade and step. Women whose maternity leave begins before the end of their contract shall be entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay.