Azorean Government launches new initiative for labour inclusion of RSI beneficiaries - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

Unemployed people registered at the Regional Qualification and Employment Centre who are recipients of the Social Integration Income (RSI) will have access to a new labour inclusion response within the scope of the Social and Employment Market (MSE) – the "SER+" measure.

With this new public measure, the unemployed with low employability and social vulnerabilities will have the opportunity to develop socially useful activities that meet social or collective needs, improving their personal and socio-professional skills, with a view to their integration or reintegration into the labour market. 

Private social solidarity institutions (IPSS), as well as similar organisations, private associations, cooperatives, and services and entities from Central, Regional, and Local Public Administration, may apply for and promote projects under the "SER+" initiative.

Applications are open from January 15 to March 30 at emprego.azores.gov.pt, according to the Order of the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro.

The unemployed participating in a SER+ project can carry out socially useful activities for a maximum period of six months, working between 15 and 20 hours per week.

The unemployed who have to travel outside their usual area of residence to carry out their activities will benefit from support for transport costs.

Maria João Carreiro highlighted the importance of this measure for the "acquisition and improvement of personal and socio-professional skills by the unemployed who, for various reasons, have not yet been able to enter the labour market."

The government official also clarified that "the existence of suitable job opportunities or adequate vocational training takes priority over the development of socially useful activities."

The MSE is the main public policy instrument regulating government action on the labour market inclusion of unemployed people who are vulnerable in the regional labour market.

After remaining in force for more than a decade without any updates, the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition Government of the Azores reformulated the MSE regulation in 2024, culminating in the publication of the new law in January 2025, which is now better suited to current socio-economic trends impacting the labour market.

In addition to the “SER+” measure, the new MSE includes, among other things, support for hiring and maintaining jobs, hiring people with disabilities, creating self-employment, adapting jobs and eliminating barriers, training, encouraging inclusive entrepreneurship, fostering socio-professional integration, and promoting internships.

The new MSE aims to improve the employability of unemployed people by encouraging the development of work habits and bringing those with lower employability closer to potential employers. It is based on a three-way partnership involving the Public Administration, Employers and Private Social Solidarity Institutions in the development and implementation of labour inclusion processes.

The MSE Implementation Guide is available for consultation at the MSE Desk at emprego.azores.gov.pt.