Non-profit organisations and companies join forces in new public support measure to include unemployed people in labour market - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

Today, the unemployed with difficulties in entering the labour market can benefit from a new measure aimed at supporting traineeships in a real work context - the "Incluir" measure.

Traineeships are promoted by non-profit organisations developing active employment policies or carrying out activities in mitigating problems that contribute to the low employability of the unemployed benefitting from the Social Employment Market (MSE), in conjunction with companies and employers.

The "Incluir" measure intends to promote the acquisition of skills and apprenticeships that are essential for the autonomy and future employment of unemployed MSE beneficiaries. 

Applications must be submitted by the entities promoting the traineeships, which are responsible for integrating workers into other employers, by July 31 at the MSE Desk at emprego.azores.gov.pt, where the MSE Implementation Guide is available.

This new public response was created by the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment. It is a "strong incentive for labour inclusion" for the MSE unemployed, praised the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro.

"The 'Incluir' measure represents an innovative approach in public responses to unemployment associated with personal and/or social problems. It reflects three basic priorities: labour and social inclusion; strategic cooperation between the Public Administration, Entities and Companies; and the social responsibility of companies in strengthening the employability of the unemployed," she explained.

Traineeships can last up to 24 months, including two rest periods. Trainees will receive a monthly grant corresponding to 100% of the Regional Minimum Monthly Wage and a meal allowance while also being covered by the Social Security system.

The entities promoting traineeships will receive monthly financial support corresponding to 23.75% of the traineeship grant awarded, per trainee, for the duration of the traineeship. Promoters will receive support equal to 50% of the total amount awarded during the traineeship should employers hire trainees. 

Companies and employers that have taken on the traineeship project can benefit from the "Contratar Social" measure to hire trainees at the end of the traineeship period, with support of up to 26 thousand Euros, over four years, for each new job created.

In the case of workers with disabilities, employers can benefit from hiring support measures for six years. The financial contribution varies between 90% of the company's salary costs for the hired worker, in cases where the worker's disability is equal to or greater than 90%, and 40%, in cases of disability equal to or greater than 40% and less than 60%.

The MSE is the main public governance instrument for promoting the labour inclusion of unemployed people with vulnerabilities to the labour market.

This legislation has not been revised for over a decade in the Azores and the new regulation, published in January, now provides a more comprehensive and flexible intervention, adapted to the profile and needs of the unemployed.