Description
Country
Focus area
The Training Pays Scheme aims to assist individuals to develop and/or improve their skills by participating in further off-the-job education and training. It offers assistance in the form of a training grant to aid participants with costs relating to training. This grant will be awarded to the individual (trainee) after successful completion of their training. As the scheme forms part of the ESF.01.001 – Training for Employment Project, it complements and supports the national strategy adopted under Malta's Operational Programme II of the European Structural and Investment Funds 2014 - 2020 entitled "Investing in Human Capital to create more opportunities and promote the Wellbeing of Society".
Link
Reference/weblink
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
As a scheme offered via a European Social Fund Project (ESF.01.001 Training for Employment), the scheme is implemented within the context of the laws regulating the European Structural and Investment Funds.
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
The project (ESF.01.001 Training for Employment) governing this scheme was launched in 2016. Applications under the Training Pays Scheme will remain open until the 30th of March 2023, subject to the availability of funds.
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
Yes - the scheme and the project governing it fall under Malta's Operational Programme II of the European Structural and Investment Funds, more specifically under Priority Axis 1 which seeks to invest in the employability and adaptability of human capital.
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded by the EU
Part-financed by the European Social Fund
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Underqualification (individuals' qualifications/credentials are below their job's needs)
Skill gaps (worker's skills are below the level of proficiency required by their employers and jobs)
Skills obsolescence (some or all of an individual's skills are no longer relevant to the current employer or in the labour market generally)
Skills matching focus
How does the initiative address skills mismatches?
Young individuals can benefit from this scheme, provided that they have not benefited from other schemes targeting youth specifically.
Applicants apply on their own behalf as individuals so they can still benefit from this scheme if they are already in employment.
Applicants apply on their own behalf as individuals so they can still benefit from this scheme if they are unemployed.
Applicants acquire skills which enhance their employability and facilitate job transition.
Applicants are encouraged to acquire new skills which are currently demanded by the labour market.
Skills delivered
What types of skill does the initiative deliver?
Note: Training must cost at least EUR 100 and needs to be pegged between NQF level 1 to 5.
Basic digital skills
More advanced digital skills
General employability skills (team working, communication, etc.)
Green skills
Job search skills
Career management skills
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Real-time labour market information (e.g. big data analysis of job advertisements, CVs)
Jobsplus is Malta's Public Employment Service, formerly known as the Employment and Training Corporation. It is therefore the primary source of real-time labour market information and utilises this in implementing the Training Pays Scheme.
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
Based on trends and statistics linked to the Maltese labour market, Jobsplus employs the Training Pays Scheme to enable all individuals who have completed compulsory schooling to undergo accredited training that is valued over EUR 100 and improve their level of employability.
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
National PES
Jobsplus
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
National ministry
Ministry for Finance and Employment - Involved in this scheme through the strategic direction it provides to Jobsplus.
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
The Training Pays Scheme aims to assist individuals who have completed compulsory schooling up to 64 years of age, providing them with the opportunity to enhance their employability and employment prospects. Both employed and unemployed individuals may become beneficiaries of the scheme - Individuals whose primary employment is self-employment are, however, not eligible.
Young people making the transition from education into work
Young people with low levels of basic skills /early leavers from education or training
Adults with low basic skills
Adults in employment with upskilling potential
Adults in employment with reskilling potential
Employed adults at risk of job displacement
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
The Training Pays Scheme has been mainly successful because of its inclusive nature in terms of both beneficiaries and the type of training they are interested in pursuing.
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
The scheme is constantly monitored, evaluated and audited in line with the procedures and guidelines provided by the European Social Fund. OPII Annual Implementation Reports shed light on running schemes - the most recent reports may be accessed from here: https://eufunds.gov.mt/en/Operational%20Programmes/Useful%20Links%20and….
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
No
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
The Training Pays Scheme is one of the four schemes offered under the ESF Training for Employment Project. It is also probably the least popular of the four, so definitely more needs to be done to promote the scheme, which at face value has a lot of potential.
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
The demand is there - and so is the supply. The fact that 2020 has led a lot of individuals to re-think their career paths or move on to their Plan B, makes it quite probable for this project to continue over the next years and probably lead to offshoots as well.
Other instruments in Malta
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