Quality Training gathers a hundred companies for a conference on training reform
Private sector companies will be required to provide 5 days of training per year to their employees starting from 2024.
Quality Training, the training partner for medium, large, and very large companies, organized an informational conference today about the reform of training for private companies and their obligation to offer 5 days of training per year to their employees starting from 2024. Among the hundred companies present to ask their questions were STIB, BPost, Eurocontrol, Sibelga, and GroupS, among others. Jean-Philippe Cordier, a specialized attorney in the field, explains: “Until 2022, training was a collective obligation. Since the law of October 3, 2022, training has also become an individual right.”
What the law of October 3, 2022 states
The purpose of this reform is to meet the European objective of involving 60% of workers in continuous training by 2030. It therefore provides that in 2024, private companies must provide 1 day of training per year per full-time worker for companies with 10 to 20 employees and 5 days of training per year per full-time worker for companies with over 20 employees. This number of training days is prorated for part-time employees or those not covered by a year-round employment contract.
These trainings must be provided free of charge to the worker when necessary to perform their job and must, unless otherwise stated, take place during working hours. “This reform might seem binding for companies, which is why we wanted to help them see more clearly and especially assist them in implementing a training plan that aligns with their practical reality,” explains Marie Vandenberghe, founder of Quality Training and organizer of the conference.
Distribution of the number of training days can be determined differently within each company. In the first case, there’s a sectoral collective agreement that can modify the number of training days. In the second case, the company establishes an “individual training account” outlining the training plan and the growth trajectory of the number of training days. The third case applies automatic individual rights proportional to occupancy time.
Effective from January 1, 2024
During the conference, Jean-Philippe Cordier also explained to the HR directors and training managers present how to calculate the number of training days. Indeed, at the end of each year, the balance of unused training days must be carried over to the following year’s credit. At the end of the 5-year period, the balance of available credit is reset.
In case of dismissal for serious reasons or resignation, the training credit cannot be reclaimed.
In case of dismissal not attributable to the worker, it is possible to reclaim the training credit. Either the employer and employee agree on the fate of these training days. Or, in case of severance pay, the balance is integrated into the remuneration used to calculate the notice period compensation.
Obligation to implement a training plan
Private sector companies must therefore plan a training program before March 31 of each calendar year. For companies with over 20 employees, this training plan with a minimum duration of one year must be submitted for consultation to the works council or, failing that, to the trade union delegation, and submitted by September 30, 2023 (for the period 2023 – 2024). This plan must outline a list of possible training for each target group of workers and must list formal training, provided externally by training organizations, as well as informal training provided internally. Joint committees and sub-committees can be consulted to obtain a basic plan to be adapted for each company.
The training plan must pay special attention to at-risk groups, workers aged 50 or older, workers of ‘foreign origin’, workers with disabilities, scarcity professions in the sector, and gender dimension.
About Quality Training
Founded in 2008 by Marie Vandenberghe, Quality Training offers around 2,000 training courses per year as well as webinars. The Quality Training team consists of 45 multilingual trainers who are experts in the tools used in companies, whether it’s office software, IT, or professional social networks, as well as soft skills topics such as remote leadership or stress management, for example. In addition to the training schedule, the team provides customized programs to accompany employees in the company. Several times a year, Quality Training offers round tables, conferences, and summits for companies and their HR managers. www.qualitytraining.be
