European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legal regulations provides information on regulations in the Member States of the European Union and Norway which are explicitly or implicitly linked to anticipating and managing change.
192-195 (Labour Code); 3, 5, 6, 9, 14 (Government Ordinance no. 129/2000); 48-52 (Law no. 76/2002)
According to the labour code, employers have the obligation to ensure, at their own costs, the participation of all employees in vocational training programmes.
The training period depends on the number of employees; employers shall ensure participation in professional training at least once every two years if they have at least 21 employees, and at least once every three years if they have fewer than 21 employees.
According to the labour code, an employer with more than 20 employees must design and implement annual vocational training plans in consultation with the trade union or, as the case may be, the representatives of the employees. Such training programme becomes an addendum to the company collective agreement.
Under the law, the main objectives of vocational training are to provide for: * professional readjustment caused by socioeconomic restructuring; * qualification changes caused by economic restructuring, by social mobility or by changes in the labour capabilities; * better social integration of individuals in compliance with their professional aspirations and the demand of the labour market; * training of human resources able to contribute to higher competitiveness of the labour force; * updating of knowledge and improvement of professional training in the main occupation as well as in related occupations; * acquisition of advanced knowledge, modern methods and procedures required to fulfil professional tasks; * updating of specific knowledge and skills needed for the position and the job, and improvement of professional training to enhance employment opportunities; * acquisition of advanced knowledge, modern methods and procedures needed to carry out professional activities; * prevention of unemployment risks; * access to vocational skills; * career development and advancement.
The employees have the right to be informed about the contents of the vocational training plan. Subsequent, the employee having enjoyed a vocational training course or an internship financed by the employer may not resign for a certain period of time, negotiated by the parties, otherwise he/she would have to pay back all expenses generated by the vocational training.
Regulations encouraging employers to ensure the training of employees can also be found in Government Ordinance 129/2000, republished in the Official Gazette of Romania no. 110 from 13 February 2014 and in the Law no. 76/2002 regarding unemployment benefits and labour force employment stimulation.
Under these regulations, an employer seeking to ensure the professional training of the employees must consult the trade unions or the representatives of the employees when designing professional training plans, in compliance with sectoral development plans and strategies.
The law also provides certain incentives for employers who provide vocational training courses (article 48 (1) of Law no. 76/2002).
The Government decision No. 474/2022 amends and supplements the Methodological Rules for implementing the provisions of Government Ordinance No. 129/2000 on vocational training of adults, approved by Government Decision No. 522/2003.The normative act regulates the implementation of the provisions of Government Ordinance No 129/2000 on adult vocational training, republished, amended and supplemented by Government Emergency Ordinance No 96/2016. The act is amending and supplementing certain normative acts in the fields of education, research, vocational training and health.
As form of vocational training, customised individual training usually implies the following stages: initiation, qualification, improvement, specialisation and requalification. Vocational training plans are developed in cooperation with professional training providers, authorised by the National Council for Adult Training.
It should, however, be noted that the incentives for employers who provide vocational training courses (article 48 (1) of Law no. 76/2002) are not really effective yet in practice.
Government decision no 474/2022 regulates the implementation of the provisions of Government Ordinance no 129/2000 on adult vocational training, republished, amended and supplemented by Government Emergency Ordinance no 96/2016. The act is amending and supplementing certain normative acts in the fields of education, research, vocational training and health.
Eurofound (2015), Romania: Employers obligation to provide skill development plans or training, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/employers-obligation-to-provide-skill-development-plans-or-training/romania
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