Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship means training in the workplace in a paid employment or official relationship. The employer pays the apprentice a wage in accordance with the collective labour agreement of the sector in question. Work must be provided for at least 25 hours per week. A probationary period may be agreed at the start of a new employment relationship.

With an apprenticeship, an employee can complete a basic, vocational or specialised professional qualification. In the course of the qualification, skills are demonstrated by means of on-the-job demonstrations. The aim may also be to obtain only one or more parts of a qualification, for example, to supplement previous knowledge. It is also possible to do a summer job as an apprenticeship.

The apprentice needs a workplace supervisor appointed by the workplace who has the expertise, motivation and working time resources to guide the apprentice. The employer may be paid a monthly allowance for training the student and guiding their learning in working life. The training allowance paid by the apprenticeship agency is agreed separately for each apprenticeship contract.

If an unemployed job seeker is selected as an apprentice, a wage subsidy is available to cover the wage costs. The amount of the wage subsidy is dependent on the job seeker. Once the wage subsidy has been granted, the employer can also apply for a municipal supplement.