© - ATH all rights reserved - Edition 2024 27 2024 EMPLOYER’S GUIDE TRAINING This professional training programme includes periods of work in a company and periods of training. It lasts for a minimum of 6 to 12 months (aside from specific cases). A training agreement is signed between the company and the training organisation. The minimum training period is between 15 % and 25 % of the total term of the contract in the case of a fixed-term contract (with a minimum of 150 hours). It corresponds to the duration of the professional training programme for permanent contracts. The time dedicated to training outside the company is included in the employee’s working hours. The beneficiary of the contract is supervised by a mentor who also liaises with the training organisation. This can be a qualified employee of the company or the director. OPCO [skills agencies] can cover the tutoring costs. If the mentor is an employee, he/she can only perform this role for up to 3 employees, professional training contracts or apprentices (the employer can only mentor 2 employees). TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT Holders of professional training contracts are employees in their own right and the regulations and collective agreements of the company are applicable to them. Young people aged 16 to 25 years old receive a salary fixed as a percentage of the minimum wage based on their age and level of qualification. Employees aged at least 26 receive a salary which cannot be less than the minimum wage or 85 % of the minimum pay under the collective agreement. Regulations on working hours concerning workers under the age of 18 apply to minors under a professional training contract (refer to Fact sheet 15). N.B. : the rate of pay changes on the first day of the month after the young person’s birthday. ADVANTAGES OF THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING CONTRACT Employees are not included in the company’s staff numbers during the period of professional training. The training costs are covered by the skills agencies (OPCO). The employer receives a fixed grant of € 2,000 from the employment agency for hiring a job seeker aged at least 26, who is finding it hard to find a long-term job. A fixed government grant of € 2,000 is also granted for hiring a job seeker aged 45 and over. These two fixed grants can be combined. They can also be combined with grants available under the « free jobs » scheme. For professional training contracts entered into with effect until 30 april 2024 with employees aged under 30, a special grant is paid to the employer. It amounts to € 6,000 at most for the first year of the contract.
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