The Role of the European Social Fund in the Implementation of On-The-Job Training Program: The Case of Pomurje

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to show the basic platform of the European Social Fund (ESF) at the EU level and at the level of Slovenia, with special focus on Pomurje, and to show the flow of the funds from the ESF to the final beneficiary and final recipi­ent involved On-The-Tob Training (OJT) Program. The empirical part of the paper encompasses a survey study which includes the final recipients of the ESF, i.e. the unemployed persons and the employers in Pomurje. The purpose of the empirical study is to identify the facts and the existing problems within the process of implementing the program in order to eliminate them or to enhance the quality of its implementation. The results of the empirical survey show that the successful implementation of a training program depends on all three actors involved, i.e. Employment Service of Slovenia (the final beneficiary of the ESF) and unemployed persons and employers as final recipients of the ESF.