Skilled Worker/Apprenticeship Training

The Social and Further Education Fund (SWF) promotes skilled worker/apprenticeship training for temporary workers employed by commercial temporary employment agencies. As part of this, the SWF supports preparatory courses and classes for the extraordinary final apprenticeship examination. An annual funding quota of 200 places is available.

Skilled worker/apprenticeship training in accordance with Section 4 (1) of the SWF Benefits Regulations is only funded up to an amount of EUR 16,000 including VAT per temporary worker and year of employment. Actual costs incurred for skilled worker/apprenticeship training are subsidized up to 125% of comparable reference prices of national training and further education institutions.

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Commercial temporary employment agencies that have paid their contributions to the social and further education fund (in accordance with Section 22d of the Austrian Temporary Employment Act, known as SWF contributions) in full and on time are eligible. As a temporary worker, please contact your temporary employment agency.

Applications can be submitted easily and without red tape via "Mein SWF" (SWF service portal).

• Support can be applied for in two ways: as AKÜ or via the ZA

• The type of application determines the required documents and the processing procedure.
• In the interests of the temporary employment agency, the ZA, and the training and further education institution, it is recommended that the application for support to cover costs (regardless of the type of application) be submitted in "Mein SWF" (SWF service portal) before starting the training and further education measure.

Applying as an AKÜ (temporary employment agency):

• The temporary employment agency pays for the training and further education measure.

• The invoice for the training and further education is issued to the temporary employment agency.

• The SWF reimburses the temporary employment agency.

• The amount of funding is limited by the de minimis rule and SWF contributions. 

Applying as a temporary worker (ZA):

• The SWF pays the training and further education institution directly after completion of the training measure.

• The invoice is issued to the temporary worker.

• Neither the AKÜ nor the ZA make any financial advance payments.

ATTENTION!!! Some skilled worker/apprenticeship training courses require approval by the board. Please note this when submitting your application!

• Wages and salaries: In the case of skilled worker/apprenticeship training during working hours, wage and salary costs are subsequently reimbursed by the AKÜ: if the employment/service relationship continues for at least one month after completion of the skilled worker/apprenticeship training (and is continued continuously at the employer's company during this period), and if the training measure took place during working hours, the temporary employment agency will subsequently receive 154% of the gross salary paid for this. However, the reimbursement is limited to the maximum contribution basis according to § 45 ASVG (including allowances and supplements). Furthermore, the amount of the subsidy is limited by the de minimis rule and the SWF contributions paid.
• Skilled worker/apprenticeship training in accordance with Section 4 (2) can be combined with educational leave, part-time education, or a skilled worker scholarship. The SWF pays a subsidy to supplement the continuing education allowance, skilled worker scholarship or, in exceptional cases, unemployment benefits – up to a maximum of the last average net salary earned (up to the ASVG maximum contribution base). If the main income ceases, the subsidy also ends. In the case of additional income and/or the employer-related portion of the continuing education allowance pursuant to Section 37e (7) AMSG, the amount of the allowance is reduced accordingly. The scope of the training measure (including self-study time) must correspond to the previous weekly working time. If less time is spent, the subsidy is reduced proportionally. The subsidy is only granted for the duration of the skilled worker/apprenticeship training and requires written approval from the SWF board. 

Please read the details in § 4 of the SWF Benefits Regulations (LINK).

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