Increasing the amounts that unemployed beneficiaries receive under the training voucher system
| 30 September 2014 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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Vocational training programmes for the unemployed have been intermittently under way in Greece using the training voucher system which is aimed at reducing unemployment. They combine theoretical training with practical work experience and are funded in part by the European Social Fund.
However, there have been a large number of complaints, in particular in publications in the electronic and printed press, that a very large share of the resources of the ESF funds referred to above goes to the advice and training providers at the expense of the intended beneficiaries, namely the unemployed. Thus, in the programme ‘Voucher for young people aged between 25 to 29 years to join private companies to acquire work experience’, which was launched in August 2014, providers will receive between EUR 1 080 and 1 380 per person for the services they provide to the unemployed, while the unemployed trainees themselves will receive between EUR 2 280 and EUR 2 550.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
| — | Is it aware of the fact that such a large proportion of the ESF funds for training vouchers does not ultimately go to the unemployed, but to the advice and training providers? |
| — | What measures will it take to increase the amounts that the unemployed beneficiaries receive under the training voucher system? |
Source: European Parliament
Answer given by Ms Thyssen on behalf of the Commission
The Greek programme (Entry voucher to private enterprise for young people aged 25 to 29 to acquire work experience) to which the Honourable Member refers is implemented in compliance with the principle of transparency. The call for expressions of interest to participate in the programme was published by the public employment agency and the Special Service for the implementation of projects co-funded by the European Social Fund.
In accordance with the 2007-13 Human Resource Development Operational Programme, which is co-financed by the European Social Fund, the amount of training allowances paid to unemployed participants and the subsidies paid to participating training providers or enterprises fall within the competence of the Member State and are set by the managing authority(1) for the Operational Programme.
As part of the Greek government’s efforts to tackle the severe problem of youth unemployment, Law 4046/2012 introduced a sub-minimum wage (currently EUR 511, gross, and 440 net, per month, due 14 times per year) for individuals aged up to 25 with no work experience, employed in the private sector. The training allowance for the Entry voucher programme ranges from EUR 448 to 482 per month, and is therefore comparable to the minimum wage for young workers.
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Source: European Parliament
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