Student work for alternating apprentices: what is the NSSO’s position?

The national social security office’s (NSSO) 2nd quarter 2018 guidance to employers provides an important clarification concerning the possibility for students in alternance training to conclude a student contract.

What does the regulation say?

Since 1 July 2017, students in alternance training, which consists, on the one hand, of a theoretical training (either in an educational establishment or in a training organisation created, subsidised or acknowledged by the competent authority) and, on the other hand, of a practical training in the workplace, may conclude a student contract, provided that they meet all the following conditions:

• they do not receive unemployment benefits or integration allowances;
• employment only occurs when they do not have to follow an education course/theoretical training or be present at the workplace;
• work is only carried out with a different employer than the one in whose workplace the practical training takes place.

The NSSO nuances

In its 2nd quarter 2018 guidance to employers, the NSSO nuances the last condition.

It specifies that the condition that the student contract should be concluded with a different employer than the employer with whom the young person is taking practical training in the workplace does not apply to the summer months (July and August). This means that the young person can also be employed under a student contract with his training provider during the months of July and August.

More info?

Do you wish to obtain more information about employing students? Then order our free publication on this subject!

Sources: 2nd quarter 2018 administrative guidance to employers.

Author: Catherine Legardien

22/06/2018