13.03.2023

VOUCHERS ARE GIVEN TO THE UNEMPLOYED

The unemployed will learn a new kind of training vouchers. This is provided for by the Draft Decree of the Council of Ministers to determine the terms and conditions for providing training vouchers. In addition to those provided so far, vouchers will now be given for training for the first, second and third degree of professional qualification or for qualification in a part of a profession, for training in key competencies, including digital competences.

A new moment is the financing of trainings for the acquisition of four levels of digital competence. The value of the vouchers depends on the type and duration of the training. In the project, specific values have been determined for the relevant trainings. In cases of co-financing of the value of the HRDP voucher by employed persons, the requirement will be defined in the selection criteria for operations.

Persons awarded a training voucher will have the right to independently choose the type of training, its duration and the training provider.

A new point in the voucher mechanism is that for the purposes of external and independent certification of the acquired knowledge and skills in digital competences by the trained persons, a Unified Certification Center is being created, whose functions will be performed by the Center for Human Resources Development and Regional Initiatives under the Minister of labor and social policy.

The planned trainings (basic and intermediate digital skills) should start as a matter of urgency, no later than 01.04.2023. Therefore, the term of the public consultation was shortened within 14 days.

Vouchers for training will be provided by the Employment Agency to unemployed, inactive and employed persons - representatives of the relevant target groups under the Human Resources Development Program, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Just Transition Fund. Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria will apply for a training voucher through the Employment Agency's electronic platform.

The voucher is a digital document that will be created officially in the electronic platform of the Employment Agency and will have a unique identification digital code that will allow its individualization and tracking.

The Employment Agency will continue to maintain on its website a public register of vouchers provided.

The value of the vouchers depends on the type and duration of the training. The project has set specific values for the relevant trainings as follows:

For training to acquire a professional qualification:

- for the first degree, with a duration of not less than 300 study hours - BGN 660;

- for the second degree, with a duration of not less than 660 study hours - BGN 1,320;

- for the third degree, with a duration of not less than 960 study hours - BGN 1,980;

- for part of a profession at the first qualification degree, with a duration of not less than 200 study hours - BGN 440;

- for part of a profession with a second qualification degree, with a duration of not less than 300 study hours - BGN 600;

- for part of a profession with a third qualification degree, with a duration of not less than 600 study hours - BGN 1,237;

For trainings to acquire key competences:

- for training in the key competence "Language literacy" and with a duration of not less than 16 study hours - BGN 70;

- for training in the key competence "Multilingual competence" and with a duration of no less than 300 study hours and three levels of study - BGN 900;

- for training in the key competence "Mathematical competence and competence in the field of exact sciences, technologies and engineering and with a duration of not less than 30 study hours - BGN 140;

- for training on the key competence "Digital Competence":

      level (level 1 and 2 according to DigComp) and with a duration of no less than 55 study hours - BGN 330;

      intermediate level (level 3 and 4 according to DigComp) and with a duration of no less than 45 study hours - BGN 320.

      advanced level (level 5 and 6 according to DigComp) and with a duration of no less than 45 study hours - BGN 390.

      highly specialized level (level 7 and 8 according to DigComp) and with a duration of no less than 45 study hours - BGN 420.

- for trainings on the key competence "Personal competence, social competence and competence to acquire learning skills" and with a duration of not less than 30 study hours - BGN 140.

- for training in the key competence "Civic Competence" and with a duration of not less than 30 study hours - BGN 140.

- for training in the key competence "Entrepreneurial competence" and with a duration of not less than 30 study hours - BGN 140.