Training courses for job seekers - Artykul

The term refers to any kind of training outside schools, aimed at gaining or developing vocational and general skills and qualifications which includes the skill of seeking employment.

Training courses are finances from the labour Fund and organized in order to improve vocational qualifications so as to increase chances to undertake or maintain employment, other paid work or business activities.

You are eligible for a training course financed by the district labour office, especially in the case of:

• lack of vocational qualifications,
• the necessity to change or improve qualifications due to lack of the appropriate job offers,
• loss of the capacity to carry out work in the hitherto practiced vocation,
• lack of active work search skills.

The district labour office initiates, organizes and finances training courses in group or individual form.

Group training is aimed at the specific group of job seekers (depending on type of training and vocation), preceded by a recruitment arranged and carried out by the district labour office.

Individual training is a course indicated by the job seeker and carried out on his request provided that the person proves the purposefulness of this training. The district governor may finance the entire cost of the training. However, the cost of the trainings – in the part financed by the labour office - must not exceed 300% of the average monthly remuneration (see the current rates). The job seeker may take part in more than one such training, provided that he/she does not exceed the above limit.

Who may apply for a training course financed by the district labour office?

You are eligible for a training course if you are registered as a jobseeker and meet one of the following requirements:

• you are working out your notice of the termination of a work contract or service contract for reasons related to the work place,
• you are employed by an employer who has been declared bankrupt or put into liquidation, except for liquidation aimed at privatization,
• you receive a welfare benefit granted to persons on miner’s leave or miner’s welfare allowance, defined in separate provisions,
• you participate in an individual integration programme, referred to in the provisions on social welfare,
• you are a reserve soldier,
• you receive a training allowance,
• you receive a training pension,
• you are liable to social insurance for farmers as a household member or a spouse of a farmer and you intend to undertake employment, other paid work or non-farming business activities,
• you are foreigner who has been granted a temporary residence permit in relation to circumstances referred to in article 144, Article 159 par.1, Article 160, Article 161, Article 186 par.1 points 1,2,3,4,5 or Article 187 of the Act on aliens or a temporary residence permit referred to in Article 114 par.1, Article 126 par.1 or visa granted for the purpose of performing work on the territory of Poland,
• you are at least 45 years old and you work on an employment contract, perform other paid work or run a business.

How long may a training course last?

The training may last up to 6 months, yet no longer than 12 months in the cases justified by the training programme.

In the case of people lacking vocational qualifications the training may last up to 12 months, yet no longer than 24 months in the cases justified by the training programme.

What should you do if you want to apply for a training course?

If you want to be sent for a training, you should become acquainted with the annual plan of the training courses offered by your district labour office and apply for one of them. There is also possibility to apply for an individual training course.

Useful information

Training courses are organized on the basis of three-party agreements concluded between a labour office, employer and training institution. The agreement includes:

• a list of skills and abilities required by the employer, that constitute the ground for preparing the training programme by the institution; 
• and a declaration that the employer will employ a designated unemployed person after the completion of a course.

The training institution is obliged to cover your casualty insurance.

If you fail to complete a training course through your own fault, you will have to return the cost of the training, unless the training is not completed as a result of undertaking employment or other paid work.

If you undertake employment, otheir paid work or business activities, you have the right to complete the course without the necessity to cover its costs.

The cost of training include:

• previously agreed-upon remuneration for the training institution;
• costs of casualty insurance;
• costs of travel to the place of training if it is organized outside the place of residence;
• costs of board and accommodation;
• cost of medical and psychological tests;
• costs of examinations for licences, diplomas and certificates, selected qualification certificates and degrees as well as the costs of licences to work in a given occupation.

Legal basis
Act of 20 April 2004 on employment promotion and labour market institutions (Articles 40 and41)

Development: Editorial team of Zielona Linia