Vocational preparation of young workers

2-3 years

Type: wage paid by the employer; fixed amount per month
Remuneration setting: centrally, as a share of the national average wage
Coverage: on- and off-the-job training
Variation(s): by the year of apprenticeship

More than 50% of the overall duration of apprenticeship
Number of hours per year (average): 324.
Basis for calculation: 970 hours are foreseen for the 3 years training period (min. 60% of the total number of training hours planned in the curriculum). Estimated average number of hours spent by the apprentice for on-the-job training per year: 324 (970/3= 324)

Paid by: the employer and the apprentice
Rights: health, pension, accidents, annual leave.

Employer may cover the costs of taking the exam by young worker. Employer may also cover travel and subsistence costs (including accommodation) to those young workers who follow also a complementary training at the centers of further education and training located outside their place of residence and work.

The costs of on-the-job training, including apprentices' remuneration and social security costs, are covered by the employers, however, they may receive subsidies from the State to compensate the costs borne. Through the grant 'Co-funding of costs related to occupational training (vocational preparation of young workers)' employers receive a fixed amount paid at the end of the whole training period (after apprentice passes an exam). In addition, employers can apply for the grant 'Reimbursement of young workers' wages and social insurance costs'.
Employer reimbursement can only go up to the levels stipulated by law as minimum wages for the apprentice (not less than 4% of the average monthly salary in the 1st year of apprenticeship, 5% in the 2nd year and 6% in the 3rd year).
In 2016, the public spending on on-the-job training amounted to EUR 121,463,509.
This includes EUR 63,021,586 spent on 'Co-funding of costs related to occupational training (vocational preparation of young workers)' and EUR 58,441,923 spent on 'Reimbursement of young workers' wages and social insurance costs'. In 2015, the State spent EUR 113,806,669 (EUR 59,464,758 + 54,341,911 respectively).
Values provided by the Ministry of Education, obtained in consultation with the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

na.
EU funds are used to support off-the-job training but no data on the amounts available.

In 2016, the public spending on on-the-job training amounted to EUR 121,463,509. In 2015, the State spent EUR 113,806,669.

Main weaknesses of the combination of co-funding instruments:
- Co-funding is not very high and depends on various conditions, therefore it does not help motivate employers to engage in the dual-system and take it more seriously.
- The final subsidy for the employer (after apprentice passes exams) and the reimbursement of apprentice wages/social security costs are managed by different bodies and are regulated by two different Ministries within the government, which makes the whole system more complicated for the companies/employers.

Main strengths of the combination of co-funding instruments:
- It is positive that a successful result of the final exam is taken into consideration as a condition for co-funding. However, the whole subsidy should not be dependent on it, as in an extreme situation the employer might not get any funding after training an unsuccessful apprentice for 3 years.

Statutory minimum wage: 417.02 per month (2016, S2); 453.48 per month (2017, S1); 473.27 per month (2017, S2)
Average yearly working time (hours) for a full time job: 1,848