Investing in Skills 2.0 - Information

The last day for the submission of IIS Applications is 31st March 2023.

The Scheme was launched to promote the training of persons actively participating in the Maltese Labour Market, with the aim to increase productivity and enhance adaptability. 

This scheme falls under Malta's Operational Programme II of the European Social Fund - 'Investing in human capital to create more opportunities and promote the well-being of society' for the 2014-2020 programming period.

IIS Leaflet

Eligibility of the Employer

Eligible employers include partnerships, companies, family businesses, associations, individual self-employed or other body of persons, NGOs and Social Partners (whether these carry out an economic activity or otherwise).

Requirements:

  1. Complete documentation - The Applicant shall fill in and submit the latest available Investing in Skills Application Form complete with all relevant details, enclosing supporting documentation, as applicable. Incomplete applications will not be accepted for processing.
  2. Project implemented within / for the direct benefit of the eligible territory.
  3. Incentive Effect: Aid shall be considered to have an incentive effect if the Beneficiary has submitted a written application for the aid before work on the project or activity starts. Therefore, claim and proof of deliverables should be dated after the submission date of the IIS application.
  4. Eligible Training Programme: Aid shall not be granted for training which Employers carry out to comply with National Mandatory Standards on training (in other words, it must be voluntary training as opposed to legally enforced training). Furthermore, Information Sessions and Team Building events are not eligible under Investing in Skills since these are not considered as training.
  5. The trainee needs to be formally employed with the beneficiary during the training period. Apprentices or students engaged in vocational training with an apprenticeship or vocational training contract are not eligible.

Furthermore, in the case of employers having an economic activity irrespective of their legal form:

  1. Aid cannot be granted to any Undertaking found to be in difficulty.  Jobsplus will conduct checks to ensure that every applicant Undertaking is financially sound
  2. Falls within the definition of undertaking.

1st Call
29th March 2017 - 5th May 2020

Employers who applied for the IIS Scheme under the 1st Call from were eligible to receive a subsidy of 25 per trainee per hour in the case of training costs and €4.90 for wage costs.

2nd Call
6th May 2020 - 7th February 2021

Employers applying for the IIS Scheme under the 2nd Call will be eligible to receive a subsidy of €25.70 per trainee per hour in the case of training costs and €5.15 for of wage costs. The subsidy for wage costs is eligible for training that is held as Classroom Style Training and E-Learning Online Training (Live Sessions). Personnel Costs will NOT be eligible for E-Learning Online Training (Self-Led) or Distance Learning.

From
8th February 2021

Employers applying for the IIS Scheme under the 2nd Call will be eligible to receive a subsidy of €25.85 per trainee per hour in the case of training costs and €5.20 for of wage costs. The subsidy for wage costs is eligible for training that is held as Classroom Style Training and E-Learning Online Training (Live Sessions). Personnel Costs will NOT be eligible for E-Learning Online Training (Self-Led) or Distance Learning.


From
7th February 2022

Employers applying for the IIS Scheme under the 2nd Call will be eligible to receive a subsidy of €26.60 per trainee per hour in the case of training costs and €5.25 for of wage costs. The subsidy for wage costs is eligible for training that is held as Classroom Style Training and E-Learning Online Training (Live Sessions). Personnel Costs will NOT be eligible for E-Learning Online Training (Self-Led) or Distance Learning.


From
15th February 2023

Employers applying for the IIS Scheme under the 2nd Call will be eligible to receive a subsidy of €28.25 per trainee per hour in the case of training costs and €5.55 for of wage costs. The subsidy for wage costs is eligible for training that is held as Classroom Style Training and E-Learning Online Training (Live Sessions). Personnel Costs will NOT be eligible for E-Learning Online Training (Self-Led) or Distance Learning.


*During both calls, the subsidy in air travel has been unchanged.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit an original and complete Investing in Skills Application Form together with the below documentation that can be found here. It is important to read the IIS Implementation and Guidance Notes that provide detailed information regarding the scheme from start to finish.

The list of required documents can be found in the IIS Leaflet (page 2). Other documentation may be required at any time for additional verification purposes.

Applicants/Beneficiaries are to ensure that applications/claims for reimbursement are sent in one compressed zipped folder, where applicable, with each document clearly labelled.


Only soft copy applications that successfully reach the working mailbox iis.jobsplus@gov.mt by the close of deadline will be considered.

It remains the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application and claim for reimbursement was successfully delivered.

Prospective applicants and beneficiaries are strongly advised to avoid submitting applications or claims for reimbursement on the last days of the batch.


Terms and Conditions

  • Full details on Investing in Skills are incorporated in the Implementation and Guidance Notes
  • Preferably complete applications must be received by the Investing in Skills Unit at least twenty-one calendar days before the start date of training but not later then seven (7) calendar days before the start of training. Applications submitted in less than seven (7) calendar days before the start of the training will not be approved.
  • While employers can choose to start training after the acknowledgment of the application, Jobsplus will not be held responsible if the application is subsequently deemed ineligible. 

Subsidy on Training Costs and Wage Costs

Training Type

Rate per hour for Training Costs

Rate per Trainee per hour for Wage Costs

Capping

Non Accredited Training

€ 28.25

€5.55

Up to 25 contact hours

Accredited* Training

€ 28.25

€5.55

All contact hours



* Training must be accredited by the MFHEA(Malta Further and Higher Education Authority), ITS (Institute of Tourism Studies), UOM (University of Malta) and MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology) where MQF/EQF Levels 1 - 5 will be accepted under Investing in Skills.

Reimbursement will be calculated on the hours listed on the certified attendance sheets.

Subsidy on Air Travel Costs

Travel costs will be based on the Erasmus Plus Grant Support for the mobility of staff.
Beneficiaries are to calculate the distance through the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/resources_en#tab-1-4 (for Malta please type Luqa, Malta).

Applicable Rates According to Distance per Round Trip per Participant

100 - 499 km

€ 180

500 - 1,999 km

€ 275

2,000 - 2,999 km

€ 360

3,000 - 3,999 km

€ 530

4,000 - 7,999 km

€ 820

8,000 km  or more

€1,500


Aid Intensity:

The following co-financing rate will be applied to the total eligible costs:

Entity Size

Aid Intensity

Large Entities

50%

Medium Entities

60%

Small and Micro Entities

70%




View the Frequently Asked Questions

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