COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 18 December 1979 on linked work and training for young persons

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES;

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to the draft resolution submitted by the Commission,

Whereas in general the prospects of employment for young people in the Member States are poor ; whereas, furthermore, a significant proportion of the total unemployed are young persons without adequate vocational training;

Whereas more flexible forms of transition from school to working life should be encouraged while at the same time the development of vocational training offering young persons better opportunities for access to the labour market should be promoted;

Whereas the European Council on 12 and 13 March 1979 made a statement including a section on linked work and training and the Council on 15 May 1979 reached conclusions on the matter:

Whereas it is therefore necessary to adapt vocational training systems ; whereas such adaptation can be especially encouraged by developing linked work and training, that is to say the inclusion, during the period of transition to working life, of periods combining training and practical work experience;

Whereas the linking of work and training is especially appropriate in three kinds of situation: - young persons undergoing apprenticeships or post-educational training courses,

- young job-seekers eligible for special training measures to facilitate the integration of young people into the labour market,

- young workers without adequate vocational training;

Takes note of the communication from the Commission on linking work and training for young persons in the Community;

Considers that the linking of work and training should be developed, in a manner appropriate to the particular situation of each Member State and with Community support, in accordance with the following guidelines:

I. Guidelines for the Member States

1. Content and concept of linked work and training

Member States should encourage the development of effective links between training and experience on the job. These links should involve establishing coordinated programmes and structures making for cooperation between the various bodies responsible.

Such programmes should be established having regard to the need to offer a training base broad enough to meet the demands of technological developments and of foreseeable changes in occupations.

They should be planned in relation to the particular characteristics of the categories of young persons aimed at.

A special effort should be made to broaden the range of occupations offering different forms of linked work and training including apprenticeships.

A suitable minimum period should as a rule be given over to training off the job.

2. Supervision and recognition of training

If appropriate, training programmes offered should be approved and evaluated by the authorities responsible for vocational training. The levels of competence achieved or the content of the courses completed should facilitate access to further vocational or general training.

The authorities responsible should also endeavour to ensure that linked work and training is in line with full-time training, possibly by the same diplomas being awarded for both, in order to facilitate transfers between different branches of training.

3. Remuneration and financial support

The Member States consider that where remuneration or allowances are granted for the different forms of linked work and training, they should be established at appropriate levels, particularly in order to facilitate participation by young people therein.

4. Working conditions and social protection

Member States should ensure that persons participating in the different forms of linked work and training enjoy suitable social protection and protection as regards working conditions within the framework of existing legislation.

The Member States should consider whether training leave may constitute a useful means of encouraging in particular young workers without training to participate in linked work and training programmes.

II. Guidelines for the Community

In order to facilitate the implementation of this resolution the Council requests the Commission to: - examine the conditions under which the European Social Fund might be associated with action by Member States by means of small-scale experimental projects within the spirit of Article 7 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2396/71 of 8 November 1971 implementing the Council Decision of 1 February 1971 on the reform of the European Social Fund (1), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2893/77 (2), to develop linked work and training during the period of entry into working life,

- monitor the application of this resolution in the Member States with a view to promoting development which is harmonized as far as possible,

- afford Member States all possible technical support to this end,

- promote the exchange of experience gained in this field,

- report to the Council in 1982 on how far this resolution is being applied. (1) OJ No L 249, 10.11.1971, p. 54. (2) OJ No L 337, 27.12.1977, p. 1.