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Vocational Training

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  • Apprenticeship Vocational Schools (EPAS) of the Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA)

    The Greek Public Employment Service maintains 51  Apprenticeship Vocational Schools (EPAS) of throughout Greece, where 7,500 – 8,000 students attend and 30 Vocational Education Liaison Offices operate with the labor market.

    The EPAS of the Greek Public Employment Service operate since 1952, successfully implementing the institution of Apprenticeship, the educational system that combines theoretical and laboratory education in the classroom, with paid Apprenticeship (implementation of a learning program in the workplace) in private and public sector enterprises.

    The duration of studies is 2 years (4 semesters).  Throughout the duration of study, the student attends his classes in the afternoon in the classroom, while in the morning he is employed as a trainee in a company. 

    Apprentices practice in small and medium-sized enterprises, freelancers, large private companies, public enterprises and organizations, municipalities and the public sector. These are businesses of all sectors of the national economy and in many technical specialties, such as Bakery-Pastry, Hairdressing Art, Graphic Arts-Printing, Carpenters-Furniture, Fabric-Dress, Employees of Administrative or Financial Duties, etc

    The aim is for the students, after completing their studies, to have gained professional experience in real working conditions. The "on the job-training" system implemented by the Greek Public Employment Service (former OAED), has proven effective in practice as students in a significant percentage, after the end of their studies, continue to be employed in the traineeships.

    Submission of applications for the 2023-24 school year exclusively online via gov.gr with TAXISnet codes at the email address:  https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/ekpaideuse/eggraphe-se-skholeio/eggraphe-se-epaggelmatike-skhole-epas-tou-oaed

     

  • Operation of Apprenticeship Vocational Schools

      • The Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA) operates 50 Apprenticeship Vocational Schools (EPAS), which follow the dual system of education. Attendance lasts 2 school years (4 semesters), during which students attend theoretical and laboratory courses (1 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon) and at the same time carry out a work-based learning program, in assignments related to their specialty (4 or 5 days a week).

        NOTE: On the day that students attend school (morning hours), they do not go to the company/institution that carry out a learning program in the workplace, as long as the company's working hours coincide with the students' morning hours at the Apprenticeship School.

  • Registration requirements

      • In the Apprenticeship EPAS, holders of at least a high school diploma or equivalent qualification and up to 29 years of age have the right to register. Admission to EPAS is achieved by scoring specific criteria of candidates (degree grade, social and economic criteria).

  • Theoretical and Laboratory Training

      • During the two years of study, students attend theoretical and laboratory courses at the Apprenticeship School for 21 hours per week, based on specific curriculum timetables.

  • Apprenticeship- Internship
      • Apprenticeship Agreement

        At the beginning of the Apprenticeship (implementation of the learning program in the workplace) between the employer, the student and the School, an Apprenticeship Agreement is signed, which states the start and end time of the Apprenticeship, as well as the obligations of both the employer and the student.

      • Students' Fee Percentages

        Students in practical training are paid, in all semesters of study, with 80% of the minimum wage of the unskilled worker. From 1/9/2023, the compensation of the apprentices is set at  27.87€ (34,84€ * 80% = 27,87€) per day of internship. 

        The Act Apprenticeship/Internship of the EPAS of the Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA, former OAED) has been included in the OP Education and Lifelong Learning and OP Human Resources Development under the NSRF 2014-20 and is co-financed by the ESF (European Social Fund) and national resources.

  • Registrations
  • Food- Housing Allowances

      • Housing allowance is entitled to the apprentices of the A' and B' Grade of EPAS/PEPAS (Experimental Vocational School) Apprenticeship of the Greek Public Employment Service if the following conditions are cumulatively met:

        1. They reside permanently outside the city where the EPAS/PEPAS (Experimental Vocational School) Apprenticeship of the Greek Public Employment Service is based and their daily movement is impossible for the attendance of the courses and their participation in the learning program in the workplace

        2. There is no EPAS/PEPAS Training Unit with the same specialty nearest to their place of permanent residence

        3. Their attendance has not been deemed insufficient, due to exceeding the number of absences provided for by the current provisions, more than once

        4. They have not obtained a degree from another vocational apprenticeship school of the Greek Public Employment Service (former OAED)

        5. The monthly housing allowance is set at 240€

        6. Apprentices of EPAS and PEPAS of the Greek Public Employment Service, who are entitled to housing allowance, are also entitled to a daily food allowance, which corresponds to 9.00€

         

  • Apprenticeship - Information on the employer

      • The Apprenticeship Vocational Schools (EPAS) of the Greek Public Employment Service operate in accordance with the dual system of education. Attendance lasts 2 school years, during which students attend theoretical and laboratory courses at EPAS (1 morning and 4 afternoon) and, at the same time, carry out a work-based learning program in tasks related to their specialty (for at least 4 days a week).  During the implementation of the learning program in the workplace, the following apply:

        1. An Apprenticeship Agreement is signed between the employer, the student and the school, which states the start and end time of the learning program in the workplace, as well as the obligations of both the employer and the apprentice.
        2. The trainee student follows, as a rule, the current daily work schedule in the company, provided that the employment of all students is 6 hours per day and up to 30 hours per week.
        3. In case of four or five-day weekly work, the working hours are 24 or 30 respectively. Compensation during the working hours of the remaining days is not made and is not subsidized in any case on a day when the learning program is not carried out in the workplace. Also, the day on which the student is required to come to school in the morning is not subsidized.

         

        The employer who intends to allocate Apprenticeships to students of EPAS of the Greek Public Employment Service must have the appropriate facilities for their training in the specific specialty, the appropriate means and the appropriate equipment. The employer shall also ensure that the hygiene and safety conditions laid down for the protection of workers are complied with.

        The maximum number of apprentices per employer depends on the number of employees, as presented in the annual staff statement to the Labour Inspectorate.
        The number of apprentices that each Enterprise- Body may accept is presented in detail in the Table below. 

        Table: The number of apprentices that each Enterprise-Body may accept as defined in accordance with no. ΦΒ7/108652/Κ3/06.09.2021 JMD "Apprenticeship Quality Framework" as in force.

        Number of Employees of an Enterprise (with an employment relationship) 

        Maximum Number of Apprenticeships of all Vocational Education and Training Structures (EPAS - EPAL - IEK) 

        Individual Enterprise

        1

        1 to 5

        1

        6 to 10

        2

        11 to 14

        2

        15 to 20

        3

        21  to 26

        4

        27  to 32

        5

        33 to 38

        6

        39 to 44

        7

        45 to 50

        8

        51 to 55

        9

        56 to 61

        10

        33 to 38 6 39 to 44 7 45 to 50 8 51 to 55 9 56 to 61 10 In general, the percentage of apprentices in relation to the number of employees cannot exceed 17% rounded to the nearest integer. At the same time, the number of apprentices per branch of an enterprise or body may not exceed 40. Legal Entities of Public Law (NPDD), which do not have branches, may accept apprentices corresponding to 17% of the employees.

        The project is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund) through the Operational Program "Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning, NSRF 2014 - 2020".

  • Apprenticeship Fees for Internship

      • During the Apprenticeship (implementation of a learning program in the workplace), students of EPAS of the Greek Public Employment Service are paid a salary equal to 80% of the minimum wage of the unskilled worker (34.84€), i.e. 26.13€. The above rate of remuneration is valid for all semesters of study. 

        According to the applicable wage, and since the contributions to EFKA (Single Social Security Fund), both of the employer and the student, will be calculated in half (1/2) of the actual salary (i.e. in the amount of 13.94€ euros), the employers' and students' charges for each day of Internship are formed according to the Table below.

        TABLE (1) for apprentices in the public sector and the private sector from 01-09-2023

        DESCRIPTION

        AMOUNTS IN EUROS (€)

        Daily wage

        34,84€ * 80% = 27,87€

        Amount in which the insurance contributions are calculated 

        27,87/2 =13,94€

        Employer's contributions

        13,94€ * 34,51% =4,81€

        Student's contributions

        13,94€ * 1,65% =0,23€

        Total contributions

        4,81€ +0,23€ = 5,04€

        Net amount received by the student 

        27,87€ - 0,23€ =27,64€

         Employer's charge, minus the subsidy 

        27,87€ (salary) – 16,54€ (subsidy) = 11,33 €

        11,33 + 4,81€ ((insurance contributions) =16,14€

        The insurance settlement of apprentices of the EPAS Apprenticeships of the Greek Public Employment Service who carry out a learning program in accordance with the circulars 20/2022 and 7/2023.

         

        From 1995 until today, with Joint Ministerial Decisions, issued every year, every day of Apprenticeship (implementation of a learning program in the workplace) of students of four or five days of actual employment (from January 1st to December 31st) is subsidized. The amount of the subsidy for the year 2022 has been set at 16.54 euros per day and is paid exclusively to students by the EPAS.

        The subsidy is not paid for the days of student leave, Ordinary leave, sickness and other subsidies, where these are still valid. In the case of student and Ordinary leave, the full stipulated daily wage is paid by the employers to the students, in accordance with the applicable provisions.

         Specifically:

        • Compensation for the days of student leave of students who are part of an Apprenticeship (learning program in the workplace) in public institutions, is made to the total of the stipulated daily wage by employers.
        • The compensation for the days of student leave of students who make Apprenticeships (learning programs in the workplace) in the private sector, is paid by the KPA2 of the Greek Public Employment (former OAED) of the area of competence of the enterprise, in accordance with the applicable provisions (Law 1346/83 & Law 3144/2003).
        • The payment procedure, the required supporting documents as well and the applicable legislation are described in the section of Student subsidies.
        • Compensation for the days of normal leave is paid by the employers in full, in accordance with the applicable wage provisions for students of EPAS (26.13 euros). In cases of absence due to illness, the provisions of Articles 657-658 of the Civil Code shall apply.

        The project is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund) through the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning, NSRF 2014-2020".

  • Leave
      • Ordinary leave

        Interns are entitled each calendar year to Ordinary paid leave in accordance with the provisions in force. The remuneration for EPAS students' leave is presented in detail in the following Table.

        Table for the Calculation of EPAS Students' Remuneration for Ordinary Leave

        EPAS Student Leave

         

        Per year

        Per month

        for 2 months 

        for 6 months 

        for 8 months 

        for 10 months 

        For internship 4 days a week

        16,00

        1,33

        2,67

        8,00

        10,67

        13,33

        For internship 5 days a week

        20,00

        1,67

        3,33

        10,00

        13,33

        16,67

      • Student leave

        Students, who have not completed their 28th year of age, are entitled each year – in addition to the normal leave – to additional leave, (student), up to 30 working days, maximum per year, regardless of the time of their previous employment, to participate in the examinations (Article 2 of Law 1346/83 and no. 34651/29-11-96 JMD of the Ministers of Finance and Labour and Social Security). Such leave shall be granted on consecutive days or in installments.

  • The Professional Development and Career Offices (GEAS) are the link between the educational structures of the Ministry of Education and the labor market. The main project of G.E.A.S. is to inform students about the possibility of carrying out a "workplace learning program" within the dual Apprenticeship system, informing graduates about future employment prospects, providing consulting services, as well as organizing events and workshops with the participation of social partners and businesses, with the aim of promoting the work of EPAS Apprenticeships.


     

       

    • Responsibilities of Professional Development and Career Offices

        • RESPONSIBILITIES OF GEAS

          • Informing prospective students about the majors of study at EPAS Apprenticeships and future professional prospects.

          • Providing information to students and graduates of EPAS regarding professional rights, employment opportunities, and the conditions for creating individual businesses.

          • The coordination of the procedure for the placement of students in traineeships of the private and public sector

          • Formation of Professional Orientation groups for prospective students of EPAS Apprenticeships, as well as groups of Job Search and Entrepreneurship Techniques for final students and graduates of EPAS Apprenticeships.

          • Development of permanent partnerships with social partners, Local and Regional Self-Government bodies, Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, labor centers, professional unions, and other public and private bodies.

          • Organization of career days with the participation of students, EPAS graduates, businesses and employers (Career Days, Open Days).

          • Organization of an annual meeting with Local and Regional Government bodies in the context of mutual information on the course of the local labor market.

          • Organization of entrepreneurship lectures in schools during school hours.

          • Organization of competitions to highlight students' skills with the participation of social partners, businesses, sectoral bodies, Chambers, Municipalities, etc.

          For more information, contact the educational structures of DYPA.

    •  

      Submission of applications for the 2023-24 school year exclusively online via gov.gr with TAXISnet codes at the email address:

      https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/ekpaideuse/eggraphe-se-skholeio/eggraphe-se-peiramatike-epaggelmatike-skhole-tou-oaed
       
       
       
      The Greek Public Employment Service established in 2021 seven new Experimental Vocational Schools (PEPAS) for Apprenticeships, which will operate in seven cities, with three specializations in the field of tourism and hospitality. The specialties in Experimental Schools are:
      ● Culinary Arts Technician
      ● Catering technician
      ● Hotel receptionist
       For the operation of the PEPAS, the Greek Public Employment Service cooperated with the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (INSETE), which have extensive experience in the field of vocational education and tourism. PEPAS guarantees the placement of all apprentices in apprenticeships in distinguished enterprises of the tourism industry (4 and 5-star hotels), but also enhances the prospect of their professional rehabilitation after the completion of studies. The PEPAS will operate for the school year 2022-2023, with different specialties in Athens, Heraklion, Crete, Rhodes, Mytilene, Patras, Thessaloniki, and Corfu. The remuneration of students in PEPAS corresponds to 80% of the minimum daily wage of the unskilled worker according to the National General Collective Labour Agreement.
       
      The project is co-funded by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund) through the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning, NSRF 2014-2020".
       

       
    • Culinary Artisan

        •  

    • Catering technician

        •  

    • Receptionist

        •  

    • Trainees in Experimental Vocational Training Schools for Apprenticeship

        • Experimental Vocational Apprenticeship Schools of the Greek Public Employment Service in the Tourism and Hospitality Sector

          Starts today, Monday 3 July 2023, the online submission of applications for the admission of male and female students to the seven Experimental Vocational Schools (PEPAS) of Apprenticeships of DYPA, for the school year 2023-24, in three specialties of high demand in the tourism and hospitality sector: Hotel Receptionist, Culinary Arts and Catering.

          Those who are 18 years of age or older and have at least a High School Diploma have the right to apply. A good knowledge of a foreign language (English, French or German) is required for the specialty "Hotel Receptionist".

          The submission of applications is made exclusively online, through gov.gr, with the TAXISnet codes, at:

           https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/ekpaideuse/eggraphe-se-skholeio/eggraphe-se-peiramatike-epaggelmatike-skhole-tou-oaed

          Συγκεκριμένα η διαδρομή είναι: gov.gr → Education → Enrollment in school → Enrollment in an experimental vocational school of the Greek Public Employment Service (former OAED)

          PEPAS will operate in 7 cities (Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Crete, Mytilene, Patras and Rhodes) and apply the dual education system, which combines theoretical and laboratory professional education at the School with the learning program in the workplace, in real working conditions (on-the-job-training). The aim is for the trainee to acquire the necessary theoretical knowledge as well as professional experience in the labor market.

          The theoretical part will be implemented in the faculties from November to April, while the Apprenticeship in Business will take place from May to October with 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. The pay of the students during the apprenticeship in the companies amounts to €139.35 per week.

          The cooperation of DYPA with the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and INSETE, which have extensive experience in the field of vocational education and tourism, guarantees the placement of all apprentices in apprenticeships in distinguished enterprises of the tourism industry (4 and 5-star hotels) but also enhances the prospect of their professional rehabilitation after the completion of studies. 

          The specialties in the 7 PEPAS for the school year 2022-23 are the following: 

          PEPAS of Kalamaki – PEPAS Heraklion Crete – Rhodes– Patras:

          • Culinary Arts Technician

          • Catering Technician

          • Hotel Receptionist

          PEPAS of Thessaloniki – Corfu:

          • Hotel Receptionist

          PEPAS of Mytilene

          • Catering Technician

          The students of the PEPAS Apprenticeship of the Greek Public Employment Service

          • Apprenticeships in paid and insured enterprises

          • They study in modern and fully equipped laboratories and they are provided with the necessary books and aids

          • They are trained by experienced and well-trained teaching staff

          • They receive an accommodation allowance, which has been doubled to 240 euros per month, as well as a food allowance, which has increased to 9 euros per day, with expanded income criteria

          • They are entitled to a study leave of up to 30 days with pay

          • They are entitled to a postponement of military service

          See here for the Press Release

          See here for the Invitation

          See here for the Rules of Procedure of the PEPAS

          See here for the Guidelines for the Submission of Applications

    • Teachers in Experimental Vocational Training Schools for Apprenticeship

        • Educational Staff of Experimental Vocational Schools of Apprenticeship (PEPAS) of the Greek Public Employment Service 

          The recruitment of temporary educational staff in the EPAS and PEPAS Apprenticeship of the Public Employment Service is announced by posting a relevant notice on the website of the Greek Public Employment Service (former OAED). The applications of the candidates along with their supporting documents are submitted after the first fortnight of May each year. Candidates are then evaluated and evaluation tables are drawn up by sequential number of credit points. The evaluation is based on Decision no. 57531/2021 of the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs (Government Gazette 3552/B΄/3-8-2021).

          The teaching staff undertakes duties in the Apprenticeship EPAS at the beginning of each school year, i.e. after September 20 and in PEPAS Apprenticeships after the 31st of October, where they are employed on a fixed-term employment contract, as an hourly wage or as a substitute teacher (Article 3, par.2 and 3 of Law 2336/95 and Article 16 of Law 2643/98).

          .Contact Phone Numbers  210-9989704, 677, 654, 533

          Communication hours: from 09:00 to 15:00

          See here for information About the EPAS Teachers of the Apprenticeship of the Experimental EPAS

    • Curricula
    • Information Note for Companies/ Employees in Vocational Training Schools

    • Student Award 
      EAfA awards – Apprentices

      In the context of the EUROPEAN VOCATIONAL SKILLS WEEK 2022 organized by the European Commission 

      The European Alliance for Apprenticeship (EAfA) gave the Award for Europe's Best Apprentice in the category "Apprentices" and was presented by the European Employment Commissioner Nicolas Schmit, to the student of the Serres EPAS, Evangelos Pouftas, at yesterday's VET Excellence Awards 2022 ceremony of the European Vocational Skills Week (16-20 May).

      “Evangelos Pouftas is working as an apprentice in “Kotoula Pol. Anastasia”, which is a small accounting office that employs 5 more accountants. Evangelos was positioned there during the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, he had to adjust very quickly and effectively to the new challenges of his work environment, which was changing drastically due to the lockdown periods and the additional health protocols. Especially during the years 2020-2021, there were limited prospects in the job-hunting market, because of the uncertainty and insecure environment the pandemic has induced.

      The apprentice had to adapt to the newly introduced health measures, either by working remotely or by fulfilling his daily tasks via the Internet that were previously carried out in person. He has shown to be extremely versatile in using technology and providing distance work since most clients of the accounting office had to improvise to the new lockdown measures. Evangelos has assisted his fellow colleagues in developing new ways of assisting their clients, such as setting up advanced computer programs, which provide state-of-the-art accounting services to the office’s clients.

      Furthermore, working as an accounting assistant, Evangelos has to create increasingly complex financial statements and other reports in a timely manner, as well as research and apply new accounting policies to companies, due to the ever-changing complex tax system. Evangelos has demonstrated an outstanding performance of working under these pressurizing conditions, by always being passionate and a stickler for perfection when it comes to minor details. This is backed both by his employer, “Kotoula Pol. Anastasia”, as well as his near-perfect performance in our school’s curriculum.”

      See here more about the European Vocational Skills Week and the E. Pouftas Award

      category COMPANIES & LEARNERS -> EAfA awards – Apprentices