News item | 13-06-2023 | 4:47 pm
As of September, the government will use the remaining STAP budget more specifically for training courses for the labor market. The House of Representatives passed a motion on this last week. The government is now investigating how this can be properly implemented. For example, by making only programs recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science eligible for subsidy from STAP as of September. This is what Ministers Van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment) and Wiersma (Primary and Secondary Education) write today in a letter to the House of Representatives about the status of the scheme
During the Spring decision-making, it was determined that no resources will be released for the STAP budget as of 2024. It is one of the austerity measures that the cabinet has decided on, in which adverse purchasing power effects for people have been prevented as much as possible. A total of EUR 102 million is still available for the remaining periods of this year. A new application round will start on 3 July, as planned, in which 20 million euros can be requested. This is lower than the planned 34 million euros. In this way, a larger part of the remaining budget can be used more specifically, in line with the wishes of the House of Representatives. It is not feasible to limit the range of training courses as of July.
Minister Van Gennip: Cutbacks must be made to keep our public finances healthy. That requires difficult choices. The abolition of the STAP budget is one of them. This does not alter the fact that learning and development are indispensable for the sustainable employability of workers and the earning capacity of employers. That is why I remain committed to supporting and encouraging this.
Continuous commitment to learn and develop
In response to van der Lee’s motion, Ministers Van Gennip and Wiersma are looking at how the remaining STAP resources for 2023 can be used as specifically as possible. For example, by making only OCW-recognized programs eligible for STAP budget from September.
Given the great social importance and the current situation on the labor market, Minister Van Gennip will continue to use the SLIM subsidy for workers in SMEs, the Lifelong Learning Credit and various growth fund projects to stimulate learning and development. Minister Van Gennip and Wiersma are also working together to improve the learning culture in the workplace. They will inform the House of Representatives about their plans around the summer.