Tailoring the right to training leave The case of Belgium

Thessaloniki, 6th juni 2011

Piet Van den Bergh

Paid educational leave

= Betaald educatief verlof / Congé-éducation payé

= Training leave for the employee• Number of hours salary guaranteed (max. 120)• Salary cost compensated by fund

= also used for vocational training• Employers / sectoral joint committees organise trainings• Salary cost compensated by fund

Social partners

recognise the need for training

Since 1999-2000 agreement on national level1,9 % of salary cost should be dedicated to training50 % of employees should participate

System of “Paid educational leave” is one of the instrumentswith the double (implicit) objective

Paid educational leave

= Training leave for the employee• Criteria for courses (e.g. weekend, evenings, …)• Negative lists (e.g. Floral Design)

= also used for vocational training• In principle same criteria apply• Training courses can also be recognised :

• by sectoral joint committees• by federal joint committee on paid educational leave

Trade unions

Double goal acceptance by all parties

“Vocational training” part is already well targetedby joint committees

“Training leave” part should be more targeted

• Increase hours of training leave for employees without

degree of secondary education (120 => 180)

• Give rights to all part-time workers

• Temporary agency workers

Thank you for your time!

pvandenbergh@acv-csc.be