📋 Tender Overview
The government is preparing improvements to the ability of the unemployed to study without losing their unemployment benefits. The proposal also includes changes to the job search obligation and service process for jobseekers who are studying for self-study with the benefit of unemployment benefits.Full-time and part-time studies affect the receipt of unemployment benefits in different ways. You are not entitled to unemployment benefits during your full-time studies. However a jobseeker can study part-time without being affected by the right to receive unemployment benefits. In this case the jobseeker must among other things apply for a job and be prepared to accept a full-time job. Changes to the proposal for the consultation would clarify the impact of a jobseekers studies on entitlement to unemployment benefits and streamline the handling of unemployment security issues.Certain studies could be studied freely without losing unemployment benefit According to the Boards draft proposal a jobseeker could in the future study unemployment benefits without losing studies other than those specifically defined as full-time. Elective studies would include for example shorter courses training qualification training and studies at a civic college as well as minor studies at an open university. The jobseeker would not have to report these studies to the TE Office or the municipality of the municipal employment experiment and the studies would not be clarified when the jobseeker applies for unemployment benefits.Studies leading to a degree would continue to be considered full-time and there would continue to be no entitlement to unemployment benefits. In addition full-time studies at the Open University and the Open University of Applied Sciences the universitys postgraduate studies and vocational and specialty studies as well as full-time studies providing professional skills would be full-time. Full-time studies could continue to be considered part-time if the jobseeker has previously worked or been an entrepreneur for at least six months during their studies. In this case studying is not considered an obstacle to receiving a job. In the future during the employment relationship the studies started would not prevent you from receiving unemployment benefits if the unemployment is due to a reason beyond the control of the jobseeker. In addition studies completed as part of an employment service would not affect entitlement to unemployment benefits.Changes in the job search obligation for students studying voluntary studies supported by unemployment benefitsThe Board is also preparing changes to the job search obligation for jobseekers studying voluntary studies supported by unemployment benefits and to the service process provided to support job search. At present those who support voluntary studies for more than a month supported by an unemployment benefit must in principle apply for three job opportunities in three months. In future they should in principle apply for four job opportunities a month in order to continue to be entitled to unemployment benefits.The change would not apply to jobseekers who have not completed post-primary or post-secondary education leading to a professional qualification or who are studying literacy with full-time unemployment benefits. Aiming for 1100 additional employeesSupported by the unemployment benefit the change in the job search obligation for students studying for voluntary studies is estimated to improve employment by about 1100 people and strengthen public finances by about EUR 41 million a year.The proposal is related to the governments goal of raising the employment rate. The proposal would implement the governments goal of improving the opportunities for the unemployed to study part-time in addition to job search. The background is the decisions made by the government on 11 February 2022 on employment measures to strengthen the state finances by at least EUR 110 million as well as the guidelines on studying and unemployment benefits made at that time.The Ministry of Employment and the Economy is requesting opinions on the legislation on the study of the unemployed and the right to unemployment security by 1 July 2022. The proposal is to be submitted to Parliament in the autumn in connection with the draft state budget for 2023.
