Development of sector-specific skills

Name of the instrument - Local language: Rozvoj sektorových zručností
Name of the instrument - English translation: Development of sector-specific skills
Scheme ID: 300
Country: Slovakia
Reporting year: 2020
Type of instrument: Grant for companies
Sub-type of instrument: Support for direct costs and wage costs
Type of entry: Single instrument

Short description: Companies can apply for the co-funding of direct training-related costs, as well as a proportion of wages of trained employees in private companies. All types of private and public legal entities are eligible for this grant. The focus of the training is on sector-specific skills related to the current job. Grants are distributed based on applications outlining the training plans of employers. The co-funding share is variable from 50% to 85% of the costs, depending on the type of organisation (public, municipality co-owned, or private), a region of its residence, and type of call. Eligible costs depend on the call and cover not only fees but also training-related costs and wage replacement. The minimum amount of funding is EUR 25 000, the maximum amount of funding is EUR 200 000 per project. Only one grant per call is allowed.
Short description of the related instruments: Not applicable

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

Legal basis

National Strategic Reference Framework of the Slovak Republic

Objective(s) and target(s)

Improving access to the labour market of job seekers and inactive (including those remote from the labour market), as well as supporting local employment and labour mobility initiatives.

Year of implementation

2018

Year of termination

2019

Operation/management

The Ministry of Labour, Social Affair and Family directs the European Social Fund resources to employers through the Implementation Agency, based on demand-oriented calls. In designing the Calls, the Implementation Agency follows the objectives identified in the Operational Programme. Trade unions and employer associations/federations are involved in the creation of the Operational Programme.

Eligible group(s)

All types of private and public legal entities are eligible.

Group(s) with preferential treatment

The description of preferential treatment is not possible, because application rules vary between calls. In some of the calls, applicants earn extra points in the application process for residing in disadvantaged regions. Additionally, depending on the specific call rules, some types of organisations may be eligible for a more favourable co-financing.

Education and training eligible

Workplace and classroom training aimed at development of sectoral skills, including: - Occupational courses connected to the present economic activity of the participant; - Any kind of non-formal education/courses (e.g. for private issues only)

Source of financing and collection mechanism

European Social Fund

Financing formula and allocation mechanisms

All applicants, meeting pre-determined criteria, can apply for a grant. The financing is allocating as a percentage of eligible costs and is directly transferred to the employer as costs reimbursement. The co-funding share is variable from 50% to 85% of the costs, depending on the type of organisation (public, municipality co-owned, or private), a region of its residence, and type of call. The minimum amount of funding is EUR 25 000, the maximum amount of funding is EUR 200 000 per project. Only one grant per call is allowed.

Eligible costs

- Cost for internal training personnel; - Costs for training materials (e.g. books); - Depreciation costs for long-living investment goods (e.g. ICT); - Related costs for counselling (e.g. formulation of a training plan); - Opportunity costs (i.e. lost productivity / foregone income/wages)

Volumes of funding

The amount of EUR 14 500 000 was disbursed in 5 calls (between 3/2018 - 5/2019). The annual breakdown is not available. The information about overall volumes of funding actually disbursed is not collected.

Beneficiaries/take up

Although the information on the number of training participants is not available, based on its budget, the scheme should shelter a substantial proportion of publically co-financed training administrated by employers.

Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation

Implementation Agency of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family

Monitoring/evaluation reports available

Not available

Most relevant webpage - in English