1. The Training Program
Our educational offerings include regional and central seminars. The following terms of participation apply to the central—i.e., nationwide—educational offerings and their training centers. Special conditions and prices apply to seminars offered by regional partners, IG Metall offices, and the Kritische Akademie Inzell; these are available from the respective organizers.
2. Who Can Participate?
All central seminars are open to everyone. This means that even non-members can register for IG Metall seminars. For some seminars, prior attendance at another seminar is recommended as a foundation. These recommendations do not constitute mandatory prerequisites for participation; rather, they reflect the prior knowledge expected of participants, which may also be acquired through means other than the recommended seminar (e.g., attending other seminars, practical experience, self-study, etc.).
For selected seminars, we reserve the right to manage the composition of the participants in accordance with the seminar’s pedagogical and content-related concept.
3. Advice and Assistance
Company training coordinators and our offices are happy to advise on specific questions regarding the seminar program. They can assist you in taking advantage of the various options for time off from work.
4. Seminar Registration
Registration for seminars takes place at the regional office or with the training advisor assigned by the office at your workplace. Once registration is complete in the electronic seminar management system, the participation requirements outlined in Section 2 are deemed to have been verified and met.
5. Leave Options for Seminar Participation
If multiple leave entitlements apply to a training event, the option most favorable to IG Metall must be chosen.
a) Works council members, youth and apprentice representatives, and representatives for employees with severe disabilities
are granted time off by the employer to attend the seminar if they are imparting the knowledge required for their work on the works council and the Youth and Apprentice Representatives Committee (JAV) in accordance with Section 37.6 of the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG). For seminars under Section 37.6 BetrVG, the seminar content is developed in accordance with the legal requirements and structured within the seminar.
To grant time off for works council members and youth and apprentice representatives, a resolution must be passed in accordance with the BetrVG; for representatives of persons with severe disabilities, a resolution must be passed in accordance with SGB IX. The employer must then be informed of the respective resolution.
Members of the representative body for severely disabled employees may be granted time off in accordance with Section 179.4 in conjunction with Section 179.8 of the Social Code (SGB) IX.
b) The central IG Metall seminars pursuant to Section 37.7 of the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG)
are recognized by the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs. The basis for the recognition of the seminars under § 37.7 of the BetrVG is the syllabus for each individual seminar. The file number for this is valid nationwide. The documents are sent to participants along with the invitation.
c) Educational leave: Five days per year, ten days within a two-year period
Employees may be granted time off from work for socio-political training and, in some federal states, for professional development. The prerequisite is that the program is recognized under the Educational Leave Act of the respective federal state.
The states of Bavaria and Saxony do not have educational leave laws. Seminars covered by the Educational Leave Act are generally recognized by the individual states. The educational leave laws of the federal states often evaluate seminar content differently. Therefore, please check the status of recognition promptly at the local office or online via the Internet or extranet. To claim educational leave, you must submit an application or notify your employer. Please take into account the different deadlines specified by the educational leave laws of the respective federal states.
6. Costs
The central seminars are offered as package deals that individual participants can book only as a complete package—consisting of the seminar, lodging, and meals. It is not possible to book individual components (such as the seminar without lodging). The total costs included in our package deal must be paid even if individual components are not utilized. For seminars held in accordance with Section 37.7 of the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) and under a law on educational leave, IG Metall covers the seminar fees as well as the costs of lodging and meals for its members. Non-members are responsible for the costs of lodging, meals, seminar fees, and travel expenses.
The prices for the central seminars are gross prices and remain valid until IG Metall publishes a new price list. All prices are subject to error and subsequent tax increases. Participants eligible under Section 37.6 of the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) or Section 179.4 of Book IX of the Social Code (SGB IX) will receive the legally binding prices with the seminar reservation confirmation.
7. Travel to and from the Seminar
Travel to and from the seminar pursuant to Section 37.7 of the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) and under a law on educational leave is reimbursed by IG Metall. Reimbursement is based on the lowest available second-class rail fare or discount fare. Travel by private vehicle is subsidized at a rate of 0.22 euros per kilometer. If several participants travel together in a single vehicle, the driver will be reimbursed 0.30 euros per kilometer. Reimbursement is made electronically.
8. Childcare
At the IG Metall Training Center in Sprockhövel (and in some cases at other training centers), children aged three to twelve are cared for in a dedicated daycare center during seminar hours. Registration forms for children are included with the seminar invitations for the Sprockhövel Training Center. There is no entitlement to childcare.
9. Cancellation Fees
The IG Metall training centers reserve the right to charge participants who fail to attend without a valid excuse a cancellation fee in the form of a flat-rate administrative fee. No cancellation fees apply for cancellations made at least four weeks before the seminar begins. For later cancellations, 80 percent of the hotel costs and 50 percent of the seminar costs will be charged. If a participant fails to arrive, the full price is due.
10. Seminar Cancellation
IG Metall reserves the right to cancel the seminar, particularly in the event of insufficient demand. Any costs incurred as a result of a seminar cancellation will not be reimbursed. We therefore strongly recommend that you purchase travel tickets only after you have received an invitation to the seminar.
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