Vocational training at the workplace - Artykul

Vocational training for adults - it is a labour market instrument directed at the unemployed and some individuals of those seeking employment.Its aim is to enable you to broaden your knowledge and gain new qualifications and skills certified by the documents issued at the end of the training which – in consequence – will increase your chances on the labour market. During the training you will be provided with both technical and practical knowledge vital for performing a given occupation.

Vocational training for adults is conductedd through concluding an contract between the district labour office and the employer or between district labour office, the employer and a training institution.

There are two types of vocational training for adults:

• vocational training –  a type of training that enablesa person to obtain a certificate proving his/her qualifications in a given profession or in the case of people with basic vocational education, secondary vocational education or passed external examination on requirements defined in the basic general curriculum for a basic vocational school or a diploma confirming vocational qualifications after passing examinations embracing all the qualifications required to work in a given occupations or ,
• job-specific apprenticeship - a type of training that enables a person to obtain chosen skills or vocational qualifications confirmed with a certificate.

Who can be sent for a vocational training for adults?

You can be sent for a vocational training at the workplace if you meet one of the following requirements, that is if you are a jobseeker who:

• is a person who receives a welfare benefit granted to people on miner’s leave or miner’s welfare allowance, defined in separate provisions,
• is a participant of an individual integration programme, referred to in the provisions on social welfare,
• is a reserve soldier,
• is a person who receives a training allowance,
• is a person who receives a training pension.

How long may a vocational training for adults last?

• Vocational training may last from 6 up to 18 months.
• Job-specific apprenticeship may last from 3 up to 6 months.

What should you do if you want to be sent for a  vocational training for adults?

If you are interested in this labour market instrument, you should ask in your district labour office about the possibility of being enrolled on such.

Why is it worth applying for?

Participating in the vocational training at the workplace gives you the opportunity to obtaina new profession and learn new qualifications. You will receive also a scholarship equal to 120% of the unemployment benefit referred to in Article 72 par.1 point 1 of the Act (see the current rates.
The employer is obliged to give you two days off for every 30 calendar days of the vocational training for adults. 

Useful information

• The working hours should not exceed 40 hours per month and 8 hours daily.
• You may apply for refund of the cost of accommodation if you were sent for training outside the place of residence.
• The district labour office may finance or co-finance the cost of travel to the place of training if it is conducted outside the place of residence.
• If you fail to complete the training or do not undertake the examination through your own fault, you will have to return the cost of the training, unless the training is not completed or examination is not taken as a result of undertaking employment or other paid work, or starting a business.
• The costs of vocational training for adults embrace:
• • reimbursement of the costs borne on the participant of the vocational training for adults,
  • one-off bonus granted to the employer,
  • payment given to the training institution for preparing and conducting of their part of the programme ,
  • costs of medical and psychological examinations,
  • costs of qualification exams for a professional or journeyman title.
• A participant who fails to complete the vocational training at the workplace or does not undertake the examination through his own fault loses the status of an unemployed person or jobseeker for the period of 6 months.

Legal basis
Act of 20 April 2004 on employment promotion and labour market institutions (Article 53a-53m)

Development: Editorial team of Zielona Linia