From 28 February 2023, applications for grants under the STAP scheme will once again be accepted. STAP stands for STimulering ArbeidsmarktPositie (Labour Market Position Incentive).
Application period skipped
Back in November 2022, we reported that the government was going to amend the STAP scheme (Improvements to the STAP scheme) and that, as a result, the January 2023 application period would not be opened. The changes were published yesterday in the Official Gazette.
We set out the key conditions of the STAP scheme in our article Study Costs Grant (STAP). The STAP scheme replaces the tax deduction for training expenses, which expired on 1 January 2022.
The changes
The following changes will improve the STAP scheme.
- For each calendar year, a maximum of 300 grants may be awarded per training activity organised by a training provider (grant limit). Once this maximum has been exceeded, the course will be temporarily removed from the training register.
- In the event of abuse, the Minister for Social Affairs and Employment may exclude training courses and training providers from the STAP scheme.
- Training providers who offer incentive trips or gifts to attract course participants are requested to cease such activities. If they fail to do so, the course will be removed from the training register.
- After each application period, information is published regarding the STAP grants awarded.
- The definition of “teaching materials” is replaced by “literature or resources”, so that only literature and safety materials are subsidised.