Labour Force Training
Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
Overview
The Labour Force Training program’s objective is to provide funding to eligible businesses and organizations which may assist in the training of existing employees so that they may develop the necessary skills to increase, improve and/or maintain labour market attachment.
It is recognized that employee training is primarily the responsibility of the employer; however, given the current labour market context in NB, the WorkingNB branch of the Department of Post-Secondary Education Training and Labour wants to encourage employers to provide strategic training to their workforce as per specific criteria established for the program.
Applications
• Must be received prior to training start date.
• Must be assessed and approved prior to training start date.
Eligibility
Applicants
The applicant’s place of business must be established in New Brunswick.
An Applicant should be an employer:
• Private sector (refers to all other organizations that are not government); or
• Non-profit organization*;
• First Nations
*Non-profit organizations that apply must provide a letter signed by a member of the Board of Directors with signing authority. The letter must outline how they will dedicate their financial resources towards their share of the training cost (applicant’s contribution towards eligible training costs).
Training Participants
• must be legally entitled to work in Canada
• must be working in NB on a permanent basis (Full-time/Part-time/Seasonal)
• must be employed by the applicant (employer)
• must apply for funding that is relevant to their primary job (i.e. the job with the most hours worked).
• an owner/operator may be eligible for funding and be considered an eligible training participant if the training meets specific criteria.
Training Type
The Labour Force Training program will provide funding towards training that is related to the participant’s job, and:
• prevents job loss;
• leads to initial certification that is job related and industry required (no re-certification);
• meets new regulatory requirements impacting the employer;
• prepares staff for new products lines introduced by the employer;
• improves staff’s ability with technology; or
• improves productivity within the company.
Training Costs
Eligible training related costs:
• Tuition fees or fees charged by a training provider:
• Mandatory participant fees
• Mandatory Textbooks, software* (Ex: Software developed for training purpose. Software developed in order to teach training participants how to use new equipment) or other required materials
• Examination fees directly tied to the training
Ineligible training related costs:
• Work tools that could be used by an employee to perform their daily work tasks, including but not limited to:
o Laptops, tablets and other hardware
o Equipment (e.g., boots and tools)
• Travel, meals and accommodation costs for the training provider and the training participant
• Employee salaries while in training
• Harmonized Sales Taxes (HST) related to training costs
Training Providers
• Third party training providers must be separate and distinct from the business/organization.
Description
• The applicant must financially contribute towards the eligible training costs.
• Applications must total more than $1,000 per application (before HST)
• The maximum government contribution per employer, per region, per fiscal year is $20,000.
• Applicants may receive funding contributions from other federal and/or provincial departments and/or the private sector towards the training provided that:
o The funding is not for the same total costs eligible under the Labour Force Training program; and/or
o The funding is not being used by the applicant towards their contribution.
• The applicant must not request participants to pay for the training cost.
Business/organizations are encouraged to contact WorkingNB regional office before applying.