Agreement to merge occupational and continuous training systems

The government and the main employer organisations and trade unions of Spain have signed an agreement to integrate the systems of occupational training (for unemployed people) and continuous training (for active workers). The agreement, which is now at the legislative development stage, also lays down a basis for accrediting skills acquired by workers through training.

On 7 February 2006, an Agreement on Vocational Training for Employment was signed by the Spanish government, the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organisations (Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales, CEOE), the Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (Confederación Española de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa, CEPYME), the Trade Union Confederation of Workers’ Commissions (Comisiones Obreras, CC.OO) and the General Workers’ Confederation (Unión General de Trabajadores, UGT). This agreement lays down the basis for merging the systems of occupational training (currently aimed at unemployed people) and continuous training (currently aimed at active workers).

The agreement is now at the stage of regulatory development, a phase in which the main trade unions and employer organisations will also participate. To date, the agreement has been lauded by all the parties, who consider it as a necessary step in bringing Spain closer to the European average for lifelong learning.

Accreditation and access

In addition to creating a common framework of action for training of employed and unemployed people, the agreement creates mechanisms for linking training for employment to the National Professional Qualifications System, in order to provide accreditation for the skills acquired in both formal and informal training. Accordingly, all workers will be entitled to receive a Skills and Qualifications Certificate and individualised monitoring of their professional career.

Moreover, active workers will now also be able to undergo specific training in any sector, whereas previously they could only receive training related to the sector in which they were working or training that would be generally applicable. This opportunity to pursue specialist training for other areas will increase the adaptability of workers to a wide range of jobs and tasks, thereby increasing their employability and their ability to manage periods of employment insecurity. The careers guidance and training services will also be integrated, with the aim of reducing the number of people dropping out of vocational training.

This agreement reinforces access to training for those groups who find it difficult to find work: women, people over the age of 45 years, victims of gender discrimination or violence, people with disabilities, immigrants and unskilled workers. It also facilitates training for workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Funding and implementation

The agreement extends the possibilities of applying for individual training leave, and stipulates that, if leave is refused by the company, this decision must be justified by reasons relating to organisation or production needs. It also specifies that training will be provided free of charge, and puts forward the idea of an annual time credit for attending training courses. With regard to funding, the agreement states that, as of 2007, resources other than the vocational training contribution paid by employers and workers will be incorporated, in order to fund the training of groups who do not currently pay contributions.

In order for these measures to become effective, the representatives of CC.OO and UGT state that, in addition to their legislative development, they must be included in collective agreements. They also propose the setting up of mechanisms to relate pay and promotion to the skills acquired.

Finally, the agreement suggests that the training provisions should be assessed by the participants and the training institutions, in order to ensure quality. A register of training institutions will be drawn up, and annual plans will be established in order to improve teaching methods and provide training centres with equipment.

Pablo Meseguer Gancedo, CIREM Foundation