Paid training leave for Luxembourgish language learning

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Name of the instrument - Local language
Congé linguistique
Name of the instrument - English translation
Paid training leave for Luxembourgish language learning
Scheme ID
145
Country
Luxembourg
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Training leave
Sub-type of instrument
State-supported scheme with subsidy for companies to cover (partially) wage costs
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

Workers may take a language training leave with a maximum of 200 hours over their entire professional career. Any Luxembourgish language courses which are taught either in Luxembourg or abroad are eligible. The Ministry of Labour and Employment reimburses 50% of the training costs to the employer based on the daily wage of the worker (wage compensation). Salaried workers benefiting from the language leave are entitled, for each hour on leave, to a compensatory allowance that is equal to the average hourly wage. The eligile duration of the training leave is 10-25 working days.

Level of operation
National
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Not applicable
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Not applicable
Relevance
Key instrument
Loi du 17 février 2009 portant introduction du congé linguistique
Objective(s) and target(s)
To learn Luxembourgish or perfect his/her use of the language and facilitate his/her integration into society.
Year of implementation
2009
Operation/management
Ministry of Labour and Employment receives applications and reimburses the employer.
Eligible group(s)
Nearly all groups of adult learners and in particular, foreigners looking to acquire Luxembourgish nationality; private sector employees having a working contract of at least 6 month with their current employer, working in Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, independent of their nationality and residence.
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No preferential treatment
Education and training eligible
Any Luxembourgish language course which is taught either in Luxembourg or abroad by: -public or private teaching establishments recognised by the public authorities and issuing certificates also recognised by said public authorities; -professional chambers or the commune; -private associations specifically approved by the Minister responsible for vocational training.
Source of financing and collection mechanism
State (Ministry of Labour and Employment)
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
Since 1 January 2015, salaried workers benefitting from the language leave are entitled, for each hour on leave, to a compensatory allowance which is equal to the average hourly wage as defined under Article L233-14 of the Labour Code, without exceeding 4 times the minimum hourly wage for unskilled workers (i.e. gross hourly amount of EUR 50,91 / index 834.76 at 1 January 2021). Self-employed persons are entitled to a compensatory allowance of 50 % of the reference amount based on the previous financial year's contribution base for pension insurance, although limited to 4 times the social minimum wage for unskilled workers (i.e. gross monthly amount of EUR 7 691 as from 1 January 2015). Direct costs are not reimbursed by the State to the learner or the employer. Leave duration: leave is limited to 200 hours and must be divided into 2 parts of 80-120 hours in the course of beneficiary's professional career (for part-time employees the hours are calculated proportionately). The leave can be divided, with a minimum of half-hour a day.
Volumes of funding
Not availabe
Beneficiaries/take up
Not available
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Monitoring is currently not implemented by any organisation.
Most relevant webpage - in English
https://www.lifelong-learning.lu/Detail/Article/aides/conge-linguistiqu…
Most relevant webpage - local language
https://www.lifelong-learning.lu/Detail/Article/aides/conge-linguistiqu…
Recent changes

To limit the compensation and increase the participation of employers.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
Loi du 17 février 2009 portant introduction du congé linguistique
https://www.lifelong-learning.lu/Detail/Article/Aides/Conge-linguistiqu…
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