The Regional Government has decided to open, starting today, a new application period for the "Recuperar" programme. Applications can be made until January 13 at the following address: https://portaldoemprego.azores.gov.pt/.

The Vice-President said the Government intends to "reinforce this measure in order to create the conditions to, one the one hand, enhance the employability of Azorean citizens and, on the other hand, allow cultural, social , sports or recreational institutions as well as non-profit organisations to reinforce their activity through this programme.

Sérgio Ávila emphasised the "adherence and success" of this programme, which has supported the reintegration of "more than 700 Azorean workers" into the labour market. In this context, the government official added that the beneficiaries of this programme "were no longer on unemployment benefits."

"The success of this initiative is based on two key principles: ensure the conditions to increase the number of Azorean unemployed supported by this professional integration programme and support non-profit organisations developing activities of collective interest," stressed the government official.

Launched by the Government of the Azores, the "Recuperar" programme aims to support the professional integration of unemployed who have been enrolled at the Agencies for Qualification and Employment for over four months and are not currently receiving unemployment benefits.

The support to the unemployed covered by this programme corresponds to the regional minimum wage, which "may be increased in accordance to the qualifications of each unemployed up to a maximum limit of 1.5 of the regional minimum wage in the case of unemployed graduates.

The "Recuperar" programme has an initial duration of six months and may be extended for another six months at the request of the entities concerned.

Eligible applicants for this programme are the following: regional public administration services, municipalities and village councils, cooperatives and non-profit associations that wish to develop projects under the provisions of the Resolution of the Council of the Government no. 120/2013 of December 18.
 
For further information, all those who are interested should contact the services of the Regional Directorate for Employment and Vocational Training in Ponta Delgada and the Agencies for the Qualification, Employment and Labour in Angra do Heroísmo and Horta.