Apprenticeship programmes

2.5 years

Type: allowance paid by the State (from EU funds); fixed amount per month
Remuneration setting: centrally, as a share of the 'IAS (Indexante de Apoios Sociais, Social Support Index)'
Coverage: on- and off-the-job training
Variation(s): by family income and programme attendance
Sources: https://www.iefp.pt/documents/10181/6489901/RE_APZ_2016_Parte_2_Anexo_2… and http://www.cinel.pt/appv2/Portals/0/ApoiosSociais/mapa_apoios_sociais.p…

Between 20-50% of the overall duration of apprenticeship
On-the-job training must alternate with the classroom-training; it may take place in blocks, for example: 900 hours of classroom-training followed by 300 hours of on-the-job training, in the 1st period of the programme; 675 hours of classroom-training followed by 550 hours of on-the-job training, in the 2nd period; and 600 hours of classroom-training followed by 650 hours of on-the-job training, in the 3rd period.

Not applicable. There is no formal contract signed between the company and the apprentice.

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There is no formal contract signed between the company and the apprentice. The company must only provide the necessary equipment, the workspace and support through the in-company trainer. The State pays allowance to the apprentice, for details see 'Axis 3 - Learning, Lifelong Skills and Enhancement of Employability - Apprenticeship Programmes'.

The scheme is financed by the European Social Fund and the Portuguese Government.
The following activities are eligible under Axis 3: Centers for Qualification and Vocational Education (CQEP); Learning Courses, Adult Education and Training (EFA) and Recurrent Education. The total allocation for these activities is EUR 592 million (including EUR 503 million from ESF). In the period 2014-2016, 236 actions were approved out of 241 applications submitted and corresponding to a total investment of EUR 204 million (including EUR 173 million from ESF) and a commitment rate of about 1/3 of the amount available.
The actions under Adult Education and Training (EFA) and Learning Courses System involved EUR 196 million.

Strengths:
- Allows the development of skills and competences (particularly those which are more difficult to develop in the classroom)
- Enables a smoother transition from school life to professional life
- Motivates students throughout the duration of the course and keeps them engaged in the learning process
- For the companies involved – higher productivity gains, and higher levels of recruitment and retention by employers

Weaknesses:
- Lack of support from companies and from chambers of commerce
- Still a “negative”, second-choice type of educational pathway for most Portuguese
- There should be a more balanced implementation between school- and work-based training

Statutory minimum wage: EUR 618.33 per month (2016, S2), EUR 649.83 (2017, S1 and S2)
Average yearly working time (hours) for a full time job: 1,796.60