A/71/358 accounts” and supported by the State, provide an incentive for individual investment in education. 44 91. In France, a law adopted in March 2014 on vocational training, employment and social democracy created a “compte personnel de formation”, replacing the previous “droit individuel à la formation”. Such an account as a work contract, attached to the person, is meant to follow every person throughout his or her career. The account is funded through a shared investment between the State, regions and social partners. 45 92. The Special Rapporteur commends the SkillsFuture credit, launched in Singapore to promote lifelong learning. Given to every Singaporean aged 25 years and older, it covers nearly 2.5 million citizens in the country. The first credit amounts to $500, with the proviso that the Government will top it up at regular intervals in future. The credit can be used for a wide range of courses. Already, there are 10,000 courses, in areas ranging from basic computing to web design, digital animation, human resources management, finance, health care and languages. The courses are provided at publicly funded tertiary institutions, as well as by private providers. The Government will provide employers with subsidies of 70 to 90 per cent when they train their employees. The credit is provided on top of SkillsFuture study awards in various fields. For example, for all Singaporeans aged 40 years and older, 90 per cent of the costs of their courses will be funded. 46 C. Individuals as beneficiaries and cost-sharing 93. Financing of lifelong learning programmes is the responsibility of those who should provide learning opportunities: public authorities, the community or the private sector. It is also a responsibility to be assumed by individuals in situations when they seek to enhance their competencies and skills. 94. Governments can support learners in various ways, such as by mandating that employers provide educational leave for employees or paid training to upgrade skills and by encouraging more people to avail themselves of unpaid educational or training leave. During his recent visit to Fiji, the Special Rapporteur was informed that the Ministry of Education provided qualified teachers up to one year ’s paid leave to upgrade their qualifications. The Special Rapporteur also notes that the Government of Austria pays an allowance at the same rate as unemployment benefits to compensate for the income that has been forgone, and trainees receive a further training allowance (Weiterbildungsgeld) from the Employment Service equivalent to the level of unemployment benefit to which they are entitled. 47 In Finland, participants can also avail themselves of a grant equal to the unemployment benefit. __________________ 44 45 46 47 22/26 For details, see European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Individual learning accounts (Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union, 2009). Available from www.cedefop.europa.eu/node/11054. For details, see www.cegos.fr/actualites/dossiers-thematiques/reforme-formation-professionnelle/ Pages/compte-personnel-formation.aspx. Information provided by the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. See www.skillsfuture.sg. See www.migration.gv.at/en/living-and-working-in-austria/working/leave-annual-leave-parentalleave-etc.html. 16-14910