The training and apprenticeship contract is one of the contract types specifically designed to ease entry into the labor market by combining real work with training, under a pay structure and set of rights that differ from an ordinary contract.
What a training and apprenticeship contract is
It combines paid work at a company with a training process, whether that's vocational training within the education system, dual university training, or the specific training pathways linked to professional certifications, depending on the particular arrangement under which it is formalized.
Age and prior training requirements
Generally speaking, this contract is intended for people who lack the recognized professional qualification needed to sign a professional practice contract, within the age limits and specific exceptions set out in the regulations for each particular training pathway.
How much you earn under this type of contract
Pay cannot be lower than what's set out in the applicable collective bargaining agreement for this type of contract, and failing that, it cannot be lower than the national minimum wage in proportion to actual working time, bearing in mind that part of the working day is devoted to training rather than to paid work in the strict sense.
The contract's maximum duration
This contract has a legally established minimum and maximum duration, with the possibility of extensions within those limits, usually tied to the length of the training cycle or pathway it's linked to. It cannot be kept in place indefinitely under this arrangement once the corresponding training has been completed.
The difference from a professional practice contract
It should not be confused with the contract for obtaining professional practice (still popularly known as a "practice contract"), which is intended for people who already hold a recognized university degree or vocational qualification and want to gain practical experience related to their studies, with its own pay structure (a percentage of the collectively agreed salary for the position, depending on the year the contract is in force) and duration.
Social Security contributions during this contract
This type of contract creates entitlement to Social Security protection for the relevant contingencies, with specific reduced-contribution arrangements designed to encourage this kind of hiring, both for the employer and, in certain cases, with reductions for the worker as well.
What happens when the contract ends
When the agreed period ends, the contract is terminated, giving rise to entitlement to the proportional part of unused vacation and other outstanding items. However, since this is a termination due to the agreed term expiring, it does not create entitlement to the 12-days-per-year severance payment that does apply to other ordinary temporary contracts, unless the collective bargaining agreement states otherwise.
Estimate your finances during this contract
Our net salary calculator lets you estimate your take-home pay based on the gross salary you're entitled to under your collective agreement and contract type.