Paid training leave

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Name of the instrument - Local language
Vlaams Opleidingsverlof
Name of the instrument - English translation
Paid training leave
Scheme ID
25
Country
Belgium
Reporting year
2020
Type of instrument
Training leave
Sub-type of instrument
State-supported scheme with subsidy for companies to cover (partially) wage costs
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

This scheme enables employees in the private sector to be absent from work in order to follow education and training courses/programmes while continuing to receive their salaries. The level of levy is 0.75%. The maximum duration of the leave is 125 working hours. The employer continues paying the salary and receives a lump sum compensation of approx. EUR 21 per hour. Eligible individuals are employed persons with a work contract in the private sector working at least 50% of full-time employment. Accredited vocational and general education programmes/courses are eligible for this instrument (only training from accredited/qualified providers is allowed). The Ministry of Labour is responsible for the application procedure, payment of the amount due, and also provides guidance during the procedure.

Level of operation
Regional
Name of a part of the country
Not applicable
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
Flanders
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
Not applicable
Relevance
Key instrument
National law (transferred to regional competence in 2014)
Objective(s) and target(s)
The official objective is providing an incentive for LLL.
Year of implementation
1985
Year of latest amendment
2019
Operation/management
Ministry of Labour is responsible for the application procedure, payment of the amount due, and also provides guidance during the procedure.
Eligible group(s)
Employed persons with a work contract in the private sector working at least 50% of a full time employment, in Flemish region.
Group(s) with preferential treatment
No preferential treatment
Education and training eligible
Accredited vocational and general education programmes/courses are eligible for this instrument. See https://www.vlaanderen.be/vlaams-opleidingsverlof/wie-kan-vlaams-opleid… for the detailed description and the list.
Source of financing and collection mechanism
Funding comes from the general budget of the Flemisch Region (public funding). The employee continues to receive his/her wage, and the employer is compensated with lump sum.
Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
The employer continues paying the salary and receives a lump sum compensation of 21.30 per hour. The maximum duration of the leave is 125 working hours (duration is proportional to the employment, i.e. 125 hours corresponds to 100% employment).
Eligible costs
The employer continues paying the salary and receives a lump sum compensation of EUR 21.30 per hour to compensate for the training leave of its employee. Only training from accredited/qualified providers is allowed.
Volumes of funding
Not applicable
Beneficiaries/take up
55 957 in 2019
Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Department of Work and Social Economy
Most relevant webpage - in English
Not available
Most relevant webpage - local language
https://www.vlaanderen.be/vlaams-opleidingsverlof
Recent changes

01-09-2019. Belgian State reform moved competence to regional level. See Flemish Decree of October 12, 2018: http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/decreet/2018/10/12/2018032071/staa…. The regions modified the original scheme.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources
https://www.vlaanderen.be/vlaams-opleidingsverlof
Flemish Decree of October 12, 2018: http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/decreet/2018/10/12/2018032071/staa…
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