Labour market training with a training card

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Name of the instrument - Local language
Tööturukoolitus koolituskaardiga
Name of the instrument - English translation
Labour market training with a training card
Scheme ID
279
Country
Estonia
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Grant for individuals
Sub-type of instrument
Cost-related support
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

All employed individuals meeting at least one predetermined criteria can apply for a financial grant for up to EUR 2 500 in three years. The allocated fund can be used to cover tuition fees for the training (incl. programmes leading to the formal qualification (ISCED 2-5), general courses, occupational courses connected to the present economic activity, occupational courses of all kinds, non-formal education, and ICT sources of different levels). The grant is funded under Unemployment Insurance Fund, the National budget, and ESF. The funding is directly transferred (reimbursement principle) to the training institution (voucher principle) if the requirement of regular attendance of the trainee has been met. There is no opportunity to re-use the grant (EUR 2 500 and 3 years limits)

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
Tööhõiveprogramm 2017-2020 (directive) under Labour Market Services and Benefits Act §4 (1) (2006)
Objective(s) and target(s)
The instrument is part of the larger 'Work and Study' Programme 2017-2020. According to the respective act (Tööhõiveprogramm 2017-2020, 2016), the overall objectives of the programme are the following: 'to alleviate labour shortages, prevent unemployment and shorten the duration of unemployment, and assist persons whose employment is difficult due to long-term unemployment or other obstacles.' (§2)
Year of implementation
2017
Year of latest amendment
2020
Operation/management
This instrument is managed by the Unemployment Insurance Fund and is funded from the Unemployment Insurance contributions (from the second half of 2020 it is also funded from European Social Fund). Annual budget allocations are stipulated in the founding legal act (Tööhõiveprogramm 2017-2020, 2016) and changes are made in consultation with the Ministry of Social Affairs. Social partner bodies (trade unions and employer associations/federations) are not involved in the operation/ management process of the grant.
Eligible group(s)
All employed (either with an employment contract or a contract under the law of obligations or in civil service) and who are between 16 years old and retirement age. In addition, meeting one of the following conditions: 1. You cannot continue working in your current position due to your health condition (it must be proved); 2. Your annual income in 2019 was less than 16 764 euros (this means your gross monthly salary was less than EUR 1 397 ); and 2a. You are over 50 years of age; or 2b. You lack professional or vocational education; or 2c. Your Estonian language skills are insufficient for occupational development; 3. You work in an oil shale mining company operating in Ida-Virumaa (Eastern Estonia) or in a company that belongs to the same oil shale manufacturing group or machinery maintaining company of the same group.
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No preferential treatment
Education and training eligible
1. All computer-related training programmes (e.g. basic computer skills training, courses for a specific programme etc.); 2. Labour market training which supports employment in the professions in which there is a growing need for workers and the demand for workforce exceeds supply (according to sector-specific surveys of skills - OSKA - conducted by the Estonian Qualifications Authority (Kutsekoda); 3. General courses (e.g. language courses, ICT training); 4. Programmes leading to the formal qualification (incl. ISCED 2-5 levels); 5. Occupational courses connect to the present economic activity of the participant; 6. Occupational courses of all kind.
Source of financing and collection mechanism
Contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund; National budget (minor allocations); European Social Fund (from second half of 2020).
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
An individual meeting pre-determined criteria can apply for allocation of EUR 2 500 in three years for training. There is no opportunity to re-use the grant (limit EUR 2 500 in 3 years). The amount of funding is transferred (reimbursed) directly to the training institution (voucher principle). The requirement in order to receive the reimbursement is the regular attendance of the trainee. Funds are disbursed to the training provider based on attendance of the individual reported by the training provider to the Unemployment Insurance Fund on a monthly basis.
Eligible costs
Tuition fees for the training are eligible.
Volumes of funding
Overall volumes of funding available:2018: EUR 6 642 0362019: EUR 4 810 1012020: EUR 3 086 948Overall volumes of funding actually disbursed:2017: EUR 496 5012018: EUR 2 359 6432019: EUR 4 680 540
Beneficiaries/take up
Total number of beneficiaries:2017: 8922018: 2 3772019: 4 594
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund
Monitoring/evaluation reports available
Not available
Most relevant webpage - in English
https://www.tootukassa.ee/eng/content/prevention-unemployment/labour-ma…
Most relevant webpage - local language
https://www.tootukassa.ee/content/tootuse-ennetamine/tooturukoolitus-ko…
Recent changes

01-09-2020 - Change in sources of funds: this instrument is financed from the European Social Fund. - Change in requirements: no need to have paid 12-month equivalent of unemployment insurance contributions. - Additional target group - oil shale/mining sector: employees of this sector (plus related equipment repair and maintenance sectors) are provided with the trainings regardless of the income levels (no max income requirement applies); this group can apply for trainings in OSKA-identified sectors, ICT trainings and Estonian language trainings.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
Unemployment Insurance Fundhttps://www.tootukassa.ee/en/
State Gazzette of Estonia https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/104052018013
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