More than 130 unemployed people placed in INCLUIR measure under Social Employment Market - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

More than 130 unemployed people with low employability, disabilities or impairments are already integrated into traineeship projects in a real work context through the INCLUIR measure under the Social Employment Market (MSE). The measure was implemented by the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment.

Since 2025, the year when this public policy measure for labour inclusion was created, 124 applications from non-profit organisations have been approved for traineeship projects in other regional employers, including private companies, for a total of 163 vacancies. This indicates that, to date, more than 80% of the vacancies created for the benefit of unemployed people eligible for the MSE have been filled.

The INCLUIR measure mobilises non-profit organisations, namely Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS), to promote traineeships in other regional employers, as a response to unemployment problems associated with disability, impairments and personal and/or social problems faced by the unemployed.

Applications opened on February 1 and are open until December 31 this year at emprego.azores.gov.pt, where the MSE Implementation Guide can also be consulted.

"The initial data on the implementation of this new measure leads us to two immediate conclusions: the INCLUIR measure is opening up companies to people who have difficulty integrating or reintegrating into the labour market; IPSS and companies are joining forces to integrate workers who can effectively bring value and productivity to companies," stated the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment.

Maria João Carreiro also stressed that "the personal and social circumstances of workers should not be an obstacle to their integration into the labour market," and for this reason, she added that "this is a measure that calls on companies to fulfil their social responsibility."

Traineeships last for 24 months, including a two-month rest period, and can be full-time (maximum 35 hours per week) or part-time (between 15 and 20 hours per week).

Trainees are awarded a traineeship grant corresponding to 100% of the Minimum Monthly Wage (RMMG) in the Region, in the case of full-time internships. For part-time traineeships, the grant is proportional to the weekly working hours, based on the RMMG in the Region. Additionally, the trainees receive a meal allowance.

The promoting entities receive monthly support equal to 23.75% of the traineeship grant awarded for each trainee during the training period. If a trainee is hired in the month following the completion of their traineeship, promoting entities will receive support amounting to 50% of the total support awarded during the training period.

Employers taking part in the traineeship project can benefit from the “Contratar Social” measure when hiring trainees at the end of their training. This measure provides support of up to €26,000 over four years for each new job created.

In the case of workers with disabilities or impairments, employers can benefit from hiring support for six years, ranging from 90% of the salary costs incurred by the company 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, whose new regulations were published in January 2025, is the main public governance instrument for promoting the labour market inclusion of unemployed people facing vulnerabilities in the labour market. It brings together the public administration, non-profit organisations and employers in promoting pathways that foster the labour inclusion of workers whose unemployment is associated with personal and/or social difficulties.