Training leave

Employees have the right to a paid educational leave of 10 days/80 work hours per year under specific circumstances. In general, employees have a right to receive training once in 2 years (once in 3 years in companies with up to 20 employees). In case the employer does not offer training, the employee has the above-mentioned right to a paid educational leave. No specific financing mechanisms are established for the training leave. Financing arrangements depend on who initiates the training, the duration, and specificity of the training/educational programme, and the negotiation between employer and employees, observing also the collective agreements. If training is initiated by the employer, all costs are borne by him. Where the employer fails to fulfill its obligation to provide training to its employees, training leave is treated the same way as if the employer had initiated the training. No compensation to the employer is awarded, but the costs are deductible in the calculation of the profit for taxation. Where training is at the employee's initiative, the Labour Code leaves to the employer the decision on terms of participation, including duration (no minimum/maximum specified by law) and coverage of (direct) training costs. Training leave can be also unpaid but recorded as active work in the work record.