The Regional Director for Employment and Vocational Training announced that 200 unemployed will be integrated in several public entities and private social solidarity institutions during the month of April under the Adult Occupation Programme (PROSA).

Ilda Baptista stated that the integration of this group of unemployed "follows the applications submitted during the last application period for PROSA, which took place during the month of February."

According to the Regional Director, the 72 applications submitted for this programme "support public entities and private social solidarity institutions to develop social support activities in the areas of solidarity, education, environmental quality, maintenance of pedestrian trails and cleaning of streams." Furthermore, this programme also promotes "the occupation of unemployed who are in a disadvantaged situation in terms of labour market integration."

PROSA is addressed at the unemployed who have been registered at the Agencies for Qualification and Employment for at least 180 days. The unemployed eligible for this support measure must actively search for work and are required not to have declined any job offer in the last year or their inclusion in training and professional qualification programmes. This programme is also targeted at unemployed women over 40 and unemployed men over 45.

The duration of the projects developed under the Adult Occupation Programme is indicated by the promoter; however, it cannot exceed 12 months. There is the possibility of extending the programme for a period up to six months at the request of promoters, which should be submitted 30 days before the conclusion of the project.

"As a compensation for the work rendered, the unemployed will receive a monthly allowance equivalent to the minimum wage amount in force in the Region and they will be also covered by the Social Security Employee Scheme," stated the Regional Director.

With this initiative, the Regional Government intends to improve the employability of the unemployed, encourage the development of work habits, provide professional experience to long-term unemployed who wish to return to the labour market and, subsequently, support their social reintegration," stated the Regional Director for Employment and Vocational Training.