New Employment Contract Law Amendment Boosts Accessibility to Professional Training and Education Opportunities for Employees

The Employment Contract Law Adjustment Act has been revised to regulate the training and further education of employees. Under the new amendment, employers are now required to cover the costs of further education, unless they are already covered by a third party. Additionally, the entire duration of the training must be considered as working time, a provision that was not guaranteed before.

The new regulation applies to training, further education, or advanced training courses that are necessary to carry out professional activities as required by law, regulations, standards, or the employment contract. The amendment aims to benefit employees by providing accessible training and further education opportunities across various industries.

Specific examples of covered training include the 35 hours of further training required for truck and bus drivers in the first five years and additional training for those transporting dangerous goods. The care sector, including hospice care workers, kindergarten teachers, and certain occupational groups like welders, will also benefit from this amendment.

However, for most commercial activities, there is no standard that mandates a specific level of training according to the WKO. Overall, this Employment Contract Law Adjustment Act amendment highlights the importance of investing in employee development and ensuring that all employees have access to the necessary training and further education opportunities.

Philip Brokes from the Chamber of Labour and Roman Hebenstreit from Vida union emphasized that this amendment will significantly benefit employees by making things much easier for them.

In conclusion, this Employment Contract Law Adjustment Act amendment addresses the importance of providing accessible training and further education opportunities for employees across various industries. It ensures that employers cover the costs of further education unless already covered by a third party and considers the entire duration of training as working time. This amendment will greatly benefit employees by making things significantly easier for them while promoting professional growth in their respective fields.