Deputy Speaker, I think I would agree on the importance of qualification in instances of training, but it is important to distinguish what this does. Typically, before we had the training lay-off scheme, when there is a slack demand in a company the option that was often used is simply to lay off workers through retrenchments. They then permanently lose their jobs.
Through the training lay-off scheme, we have created a facility that a company can access. Instead of retrenching a worker, they place them on short-term training. The duration of the training could be up to three months, full-time equivalent. It does not need to be taken in one period, it could be spread out. You could have two days training a week, stretched over a period longer than three months, but equivalent to three months full- time.
The types of training is determined by the discussion between business and labour at plant level, but the sector education and training authorities, Setas, at industry level helped to co-ordinate some of the training. So the facility is certainly available for all skills that workers have obtained to be certified through the Setas. Thank you.