Training fund for household personal services

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Name of the instrument - Local language
Fonds de formation Titres-services (FR)/Opleidingsfonds dienstencheques (NL)
Name of the instrument - English translation
Training fund for household personal services
Scheme ID
13
Country
Belgium
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Grant for companies
Sub-type of instrument
Support for direct costs and wage costs
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

Companies in the sector of household/personal services receive a fixed amount of money for their employees in training (flat-rate of EUR 14.50) to compensate for wage loss. In addition, the training cost itself can be compensated (up to certain maximum amount per trainee or per hour). Training is subsidised by the region (EUR 150 for 9 hours and EUR 300 for 18 hours). The budget can only be used for approved/accredited training programmes. This training fund is attributed to household/personal services companies on an annual basis. Funds are distributed in case of meeting pre-determined criteria best (through top-down procedures). All employees working in the sector of household services and registered in the system of 'recognised service cheque company' are eligible groups for this instrument (being registered is a must). The measure cannot be re-used.

Not applicable
Level of operation
Regional
Sectoral
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Flanders/Wallonia/Brussels
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Household personnel
Relevance
Key instrument
Royal decree of 7 June 2007 regarding the training fund for household services modified by Royal decrees of 22 July 2009 and 10 October 2013
Year of implementation
2007
Operation/management
On 1 April 2015, management was transferred from the Federal Government to the following regional-level authorities: Le Forem (Public Employment Service of Wallonia), Regional Public Employment Service in Bruxelles (Actiris), and the Flemish Government (corresponding public service in Flanders). These are currently the main entities managing this instrument.Thus, the terms and conditions of this training fund have a shared historical background (and are still similar across regions), but may diverge over time as regions may independently change some of the terms and conditions. Paritair Subcomité 322.01 (PSC 322.01) (a joint sub-committee for accredited companies providing household or personal services, where collective agreements are negotiated between representatives of employers and employees on a kind of sub-level) is also involved. Thanks to this grant, enterprises in the sector of household/personal services receive a fix amount of money for their employees in training (flat-rate of 14,50) to compensate for wage loss. Moreover, the training cost itself can be compensated.This training fund is attributed to companies on an annual basis.
Eligible group(s)
All employees working in the sector of household services and registered in the system of 'recognised service cheque company' are eligible groups for this instrument (being registered is a must).
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No preferential treatment
Education and training eligible
Only approved/accredited training programmes are eligible.
Source of financing and collection mechanism
Funding is provided by regional authorities (it used to be national, but is now regional). Le Forem (Public Employment Service of Wallonia), Regional Public Employment Service in Bruxelles (Actiris), and the Flemish Government (corresponding public service in Flanders).
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
Enterprises in the sector of household/personal services receive a fix amount of money for their employees in training (flat-rate of 14,50) to compensate for wage loss. In addition the training cost itself can be compensated (up to certain maximum amount per trainee or per hour). Before October 2013, the rate was 12.60 (instead of the current 14.50). Training is subsidised by the region (150 for 9 hours and 300 for 18 hours).Financing differences depend on the training being internal or external, for instance. Also, training budget depends on the size of the company.The financing aims at reimbursing the costs already paid by the company.
Eligible costs
The budget can only be used for approved/accredited training programmes.Eligible costs include tuition fees/fees for participation (external providers), cost for internal training personnel, costs for training materials (e.g. books), travel costs, and opportunity costs (i.e. lost productivity / foregone income/wages).
Volumes of funding
EUR 4 339 000 in 2019
Beneficiaries/take up
363 in 20182016: 27 882 (38,27%) 2017: 35 588 (34,82%) 2018: 35 586 (n.a.) 2) Number of companies with reimbursed trainings (and share of companies with training budget in this system): 2016: 371 (19%) 2017: 363 (35%) 2018: 363 (37%)
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Information not available.
Most relevant webpage - in English
Not available
Most relevant webpage - local language
https://www.vlaanderen.be/opleidingsfonds-dienstencheques
Recent changes

No recent changes

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
https://www.vlaanderen.be/erkende-opleidingen-voor-wie-werkt-via-dienst…
Interpellation of the minister by members of parliament
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