Minister of Labor and Economy Martin Kocher (ÖVP), together with the Greens, hopes for a reform of educational leave. The educational leave must be “precise” and the requirements for evidence must be made “a little clearer”, the politician said on Monday.
As reported, the Court of Audit (RH) presented a critical report on the money for further training in the spring of 2023. The substantive requirements for training and further education were “so low that educational leave could be used both for less complex course offerings that had little relevance to labor market policy and for breaks in the work process financed with public funds,” the auditors wrote in their report for example. Compared to 2010, twice as many people received further training compensation in 2021: 14,000. These were mainly women (74 percent).
Recipients don’t have to decrease
In 2021, the AMS paid approximately 195.5 million euros in further training money from the unemployment funds. In addition, there was another 100.3 million euros in social security contributions. According to Kocher, the number of recipients does not need to be reduced. “It’s a very, very good instrument.” We have already come “very far” in the exchange with the social partners. The instrument must be “accurate” and the verification requirements “a little clearer”.
Educational leave has been in place since January 1998. Employees can take two to twelve months off for training and further training. During this time, there is a further training benefit that corresponds to the unemployment benefit, namely 55 percent of the previous net income. In addition, small employment is permitted up to a maximum of 518.44 euros per month.
The employer must agree to the educational leave; there is no legal protection against dismissal during the internship period. The required period for employment is only six months.
Source: Krone
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