Time credit

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Name of the instrument - Local language
Tijdkrediet
Name of the instrument - English translation
Time credit
Scheme ID
26
Country
Belgium
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Training leave
Sub-type of instrument
State-supported (longer) scheme with wage replacement paid to individuals
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

Individuals taking 'time credit' to enrol in training can (in addition to the national incentive bonus (paid by the federal RVA/ONEM)) apply for a Flemish incentive bonus 'Vlaams opleidingskrediet' (Flemish education credit). Eligible groups for this instrument include employees who have been employed at a company for at least 2 years. No preferential treatment for a particular eligible group is applied in this scheme. The employee receives no wage, but he/she gets an allowance paid by national federal PES (RVA, Rijksdienst voor Arbeidsvorziening) and the regional PES (VDAB). The financial support depends on previous working time and salary. The minimum duration of the training leave is 1 month, and the maximum duration, 36 months. Learning eligible for this instrument includes accredited education and training courses/programmes. It must be labour market related, to be chosen from the accredited list.

Level of operation
Regional
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Flanders
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Not applicable
Relevance
Further instrument
Not applicable
Year of implementation
2001
Year of latest amendment
2019
Operation/management
Individuals taking 'time credit' to enrol in training can (in addition to the national incentive bonus (paid by the federal RVA/ONEM)) apply for a Flemish incentive bonus 'Vlaams opleidingskrediet' (Flemish education credit). Individuals should first apply for Belgian Federal time credit (training pillar). If this is approved, individuals can apply for the additional Flemish incentive.
Eligible group(s)
Eligible groups for this instrument include employees who have been employed at a company for at least 2 years. General criteria: Private (social profit) sector employee, applying for the education/training pillar of time credit, at least 24 months of seniority with employer, Flanders.
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No preferential treatment
Education and training eligible
Learning eligible for this instrument includes accredited education and training courses/programmes. It must be labour market related, to be chosen from accredited list.
Source of financing and collection mechanism
Funding comes from the Federal PES: RVA (Rijksdienst voor Arbeidsvorziening) and the Regional PES: VDAB.The employee receives no wage, but he/she gets an allowance paid by national and regional PES.
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
If time credit is granted, the federal PES will provide a financial support during enrolment in education and training. Financial support depends on previous working time and salary. The minimun duration of the training leave is 1 month, and the maximum duration, 36 months.
Eligible costs
System only applies for accredited training programmes.
Volumes of funding
Not applicable
Beneficiaries/take up
328 in 2018
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Flemish Department of Work and Social Economy
Most relevant webpage - in English
Not available
Most relevant webpage - local language
https://www.vdab.be/tijdskrediet-opleidingskrediet
Recent changes

2019 system is moved to regional level (after Belgian State reform) and is reformed by Flemish Government. The rationale is providing incentives for labour market related LLL.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
https://www.vdab.be/tijdskrediet-opleidingskrediet
https://www.vlaanderen.be/tijdskrediet-in-de-privesector/tijdskrediet-b…
https://www.vlaanderen.be/aanmoedigingspremie-opleidingskrediet-privese…
https://www.rva.be/nl/documentatie/baremas/loopbaanonderbreking-tijdskr…
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