Young Azoreans with more summer occupation opportunities and increased support under OTLJ - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego

Starting this year, young people participating in a project under the Youth Free Time Occupation Programme - OTLJ will have access to a new summer occupation sub-programme and benefit from increased support.

The rules of the "new" OTLJ programme were published today in the Official Journal. They are the result of a commitment made by the Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, to adapt a programme to the current demands of young people that was last reformulated in 2010 and whose rules had not been revised for seven years.

OTLJ includes a new sub-programme, "Summer in Occupation.' Young people aged between 16 and 24 enrolled in secondary, vocational or higher education can participate in an occupation project promoted by private companies, the social sector, the media and cooperatives.

Occupation projects under this sub-programme run from July to August, for 35 working days, starting no later than the 5th working day of July, for a maximum of 20 hours a week, without exceeding 5 hours a day.

Young people receive a grant of four Euros per hour, which could total 560 euros if they complete their entire occupation.

"The creation of this sub-programme includes promoters previously excluded from OTLJ. It provides young people access to a greater diversity of projects to occupy themselves during the holidays, with benefits for vocational and academic screening and skill development," noted Maria João Carreiro.

The Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment explains that ‘Summer in Occupation’ is also a ‘response to young people making their holidays an opportunity to obtain funding for their projects,’ such as trips and Erasmus experiences. The grant is tailored to these interests and discourages irregular occupation during this period.

The grant awarded under the "Holiday Occupation," "Active Youth" and "Young Students" sub-programmes has also been increased from 2.5 Euros/hour to three Euros/hour, corresponding to a 20% increase in public investment in each young person. 

Applications from young people and promoters for the four OTLJ sub-programmes will now be submitted between March and April each year, extending the application period from one to two months.

In the case of "Young Students," applications can be submitted in two periods (September 1 to October 15 and December 1 to January 15). The length of the projects has been extended from four to five months as well as the occupation period (from November to May) and the recipients of this OTLJ sub-programme, which include young people enrolled in secondary, vocational and higher education.