You pay a fee for the training place. – is that allowed?

Q: You pay a fee for the training place. – is that allowed?

No — in dual training you pay nothing, you get paid. In dual training under the BBiG or the Crafts Code you are entitled to appropriate pay (§ 17 BBiG), and any agreement requiring you to pay for the training is void (§ 12 (2) no. 1 BBiG). "Apprenticeship fees" have not existed for decades. It is different for school-based training at private schools (e.g. some health or design occupations): school fees may apply there because there is no training contract with a company. So check whether your contract is a vocational training contract registered with the chamber.

Pay

"You pay a fee for the training place."

You are supposed to pay an apprenticeship fee, school fee or a fee for the training place.

§ 12 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BBiG / § 17 BBiG

The boss may NOT do that

No — in dual training you pay nothing, you get paid.

In dual training under the BBiG or the Crafts Code you are entitled to appropriate pay (§ 17 BBiG), and any agreement requiring you to pay for the training is void (§ 12 (2) no. 1 BBiG). "Apprenticeship fees" have not existed for decades. It is different for school-based training at private schools (e.g. some health or design occupations): school fees may apply there because there is no training contract with a company. So check whether your contract is a vocational training contract registered with the chamber.

What the law says

§ 12 (2) no. 1 BBiG – Void

An agreement obliging trainees to pay compensation for their vocational training is void.

§ 17 (1) BBiG – Pay

Trainers must grant trainees appropriate pay.

What you can do

Do not pay anything up front — reputable training companies do not charge money.
Ask whether the contract will be registered with the IHK/HWK.
For school-based training: check school fee reimbursement or BAföG.
Suspect a scam? Inform the chamber or a consumer advice centre.

What the law says

What you can do

More cases: Pay