Training courses for the unemployed - 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 qualification so as to increase chances to undertake or maintain employment, otheir 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 individual and group training courses .

Group training is aimed at the specific group of the unemployed (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 an unemployed person and carried out on his/her request provided that the unemployed 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 unemployed person may take part in more than one such training provided that he does not exceed the above limit.

How long may a training course last?

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

In the cases 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 in order to be sent for a training?

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.

Why is it worth applying for?

• You will receive a scholarships equal to 120% of the unemployment benefit referred to in the art. 72 par.1 pt 1, provided that it lasts at least 150 hours monthly. If the training course is shorter than 150 hours per month, the scholarship is paid out proportionally but no less than 20% of the said benefit (see the current rates).
• If you are directed to a training course by the district governor and during this course you undertake employment, you will receive a scholarship equal to 20% of the unemployment benefit, from the last day of the month during which you undertake employment to the last day of the training. This benefit is free from social insurance contributions.
• You may apply for the reimbursement of the cost of accommodation and food if you were sent for the training outside the place of residence provided that it results from the agreement between the district governor and the training institution.
• The district labour office may finance or co-finance the cost of travel to the place of training if it is organised outside the place of your residence.
• You may also apply for the refund of the costs of board and accommodation, if the training course takes place outside the palce of your residence and the agreement concluded between the labour office and the training institutions indicates such a possibility.
• The training institution is obliged to cover your casualty insurance, if you do not receive the scholarship from the labour office or if undertake employment, other paid work or business activities druing the 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.

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.

Legal basis
Act of 20 April 2004 on employment promotion and labour market institutions (Articles 40 and 41)

Development: Editorial team of Zielona Linia