Paid education leave
- Name of the instrument - Local language
- Le congé-éducation payé (FR)/Betaald educatief verlof (NL)
- Name of the instrument - English translation
- Paid education leave
- Scheme ID
- 19
- Country
- Belgium
- Reporting year
- 2015
- Type of instrument
- Training leave
- Type of entry
- Single instrument
- Short description
Private sector workers have the right to short paid educational leave, up to 120 working hours. The scheme provides for the continued payment of salary by the employer to the employee and the possibility for the employer to apply for compensation from the State. Employees on training leave have the right to receive their normal wage, if appropriate. The scheme is capped at EUR 2 706 of a gross monthly salary and does not contain any arrangements for coverage of fees, travel or accommodation costs.
- Short description of the related instruments
nap
- Level of operation
- Regional
- Name of a part of the country
- nap
- Name of the region (for regional instruments)
- Wallonia
- Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
- nap
- Relevance
- Key scheme
- Legal basis
Royal Decree of 9 September 2006 modifying certain provisions regarding the right to paid educational training leave. Royal Decree of 23 July 1985 for the implementation of section 6 chapter IV of the Recovery Act of 22 January, 1985 containing social security provisions
- Year of implementation
- 1985
- Year of latest amendment
- 2006
- Operation/management
On 1 April 2015, management was transferred from the Federal Government to the following regional-level authorities: Le Forem, Service Public de Wallonie, Service public regional de Bruxelles, Vlaamse Overheid
- Eligible group(s)
Private sector employees on open-ended and full-time contract (employees must have a total employment (spread over several employers) of 80-100%)
- Group(s) with preferential treatment
None
- Education and training eligible
A commission with representatives of the social partners determines the list of possible training programmes. The range is wide and goes from secondary and university education to sectoral training courses. Both, general and vocational programmes are eligible.
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
State
The grant is adminstered by PES Wallonia (Le Forem) and PES Brussels (Actiris)- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
The instrument provides for the continued payment of salary by the employer to the employee and the possibility for the employer to apply for compensation from the State (reimbursement after the training). Employees on training leave have the right to receive their normal wage, if appropriate. The scheme is capped at EUR 2 706 of a gross monthly salary (amount introduced starting from 1.09.2012). Employer may (right and not obligation) limit the salary to this ceiling. The scheme does not contain any arrangements for coverage of fees, travel or accommodation costs. Minimum duration of leave: 8 hours/day, leave for validation of skills and competences; maximum duration: 120 working hours (the number of hours depends on the type of course).
- Eligible costs
Specific arrangement
- Volumes of funding
In 2008, the overall budget for the scheme was EUR 82 305 496. This includes wage costs which are paid by companies and the repaid by the State. The costs of running training programmes are not available. The budget for 2007 was EUR 61 017 618.
- Beneficiaries/take up
In 2008, 76 114 individuals made use of a training leave.
- Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
SPF Emploi (FOD WASO); since 2015 PES Wallonia (Le Forem) and Service Public de Wallonie.
- Monitoring/evaluation reports available
na
- Most relevant webpage - in English
na
- Most relevant webpage - local language
na
- Sources
Royal Decree of 9 September 2006 modifying certain provisions regarding the right to paid educational training leave.
- Short description
- Short description of the related instruments
- Level of operation
- Name of a part of the country
- Name of the region (for regional instruments)
- Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
- Relevance
- Legal basis
- Year of implementation
- Year of latest amendment
- Operation/management
- Eligible group(s)
- Group(s) with preferential treatment
- Education and training eligible
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
- Eligible costs
- Volumes of funding
- Beneficiaries/take up
- Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
- Monitoring/evaluation reports available
- Most relevant webpage - in English
- Most relevant webpage - local language
- Sources