| 4 days of work + 1 day of study: keeping jobs with training | | Print | |
| Eva Tanczos | 22.06.2009 | National Affairs - News items [en] | ||||
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In Hungary, small and medium-sized businesses that have come into a difficult financial situation are receiving help – instead of reducing their personnel, they hold one day of state-financed training for workers, along with four days of work.
In order to reduce the unfavourable effects of the economic crisis, the Hungarian government introduced this new type of support for small and medium-sized businesses in April 2009. The project is being realised with support from the European Union and partnership financing from the European Social Fund. Within the context of social renewal, the operating program supports the training plans of small and medium-sized businesses that have been stricken by the crisis, by reducing the time workers spend at work. Since many businesses have less work, the need to reduce personnel arises. Instead of discharging employees, the new support gives allows them to work on a schedule of four days a week and dedicate the fifth day to training. In the 4+1 program, the wage costs of the fifth working day are assumed by the firm competing for the support and the workers, up to 50 %. A condition for the support is that on every fifth working day, the supported workers participate in further training. In the situation of need caused by the crisis, the program opens a possibility for the worker, as part of his working time, to acquire modern technical knowledge and to further develop his skills and knowledge. The target of the program is not specifically the people, but supporting the complex training projects of businesses. According to the plans, the program will directly help to support and preserve the training and jobs of 25,000 workers. Within the framework of the program, the following types of training are possible: acquiring state-recognised technical training, developing important skills of key personnel (foreign languages, computer science, etc.), and training necessary to qualify for technical training. Those competing have a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 12 months to perform the training. According to statistics, in Hungary, the multinational companies spend the most on technical instruction and skill development. Hopefully, the 4+1 program, beyond setting fundamental goals, will also bring a result that the leaders of small and medium-sized businesses will feel that continual development of worker’s technical knowledge is a valuable factor in preserving their ability to compete. |
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