Vocational training without entering into an employment relationship

24.6.2016

Question for written answer E-005087-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Andrej Plenković (PPE)

The guarantee for youth access is intended to address the issue of youth unemployment, whereby everyone under the age of 25 seeks to become active in the labour market as quickly as possible.

It has been in force in Croatia since 1 July 2013 within the framework of the ‘Young and Creative’ measures designed for young adults up to the age of 30.

One of the active measures is also vocational training without entering into an employment relationship, which is based on the assumption that providing young adults with work experience is key to resolving their unemployment. The idea behind this measure is that young adults gain practical work experience in their profession and supplement the knowledge that they obtained at university over a period of six months to two years, depending on the industry.

In reality, the measure is marked by underemployment and uncertainty, as young adults rarely have the option to become properly employed on completion of their work placement; whereas employers are offered free labour and state support for a year.

This measure was clearly intended to encourage young adults to stay in Croatia and prevent them from emigrating.

What measures will the Commission propose for countries like Croatia that are facing the problem of high youth unemployment and emigration? What are the other Member States' positive examples of and solutions for the above problems?