From the 2019-2020 school year onwards, every private sector employee in Flanders has the right, under certain conditions, to be absent from work in order to follow a training course, while his or her salary continues to be paid. After the training, the employer may be reimbursed a lump sum as compensation.
For courses with a start date of 1 September 2019 or later, the Flemish Training Leave (FTL) replaces the regulations of the Paid Educational Leave.
Contrary to the previous regulation, an assessment system is set up to determine whether a course is labour market related. Forms of distance and workplace learning are also eligible from now on. In addition, career-oriented courses following individual career guidance are eligible, even if they do not appear in the future training database.
