The Vice-President of the Government presented today two new programmes launched by the Government to stimulate employment creation, stressing that this measure a "further step"; however, it requires "joint efforts to support the Region overcoming the major challenge of employment creation in a particularly adverse context."

"We know that employment is not created by decree and, therefore, we consider that combined efforts between public entities, workers and businesspeople are essential to overcome this difficult situation," stated Sérgio Ávila during a press a conference in Angra do Heroísmo.

The "Requalificar" Programme and the Professional Reconversion Traineeship Programme - "Agir Agricultura" and "Agir Indústria" are the two programmes presented today; both are included in the Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Business Competitiveness.

"The 'Requalificar' programme is intended to promote the employability of the Azorean who hold an academic degree in areas with low employability in the labour market and whose qualifications are not suited to the needs of employers," explained Sérgio Ávila.

The implementation of this programme is already being prepared with the establishment of an agreement with the University of the Azores for the development of master's degrees in Biotechnology and Biological Control, Economics and Business Management, International Tourism Management, Agronomist Engineering and Food Safety as well as of post-graduate courses in Business Management, Food Safety and Public Health. These are the areas with higher employability among the educational offer provided by the University of the Azores.

The Vice-President of the Regional Government revealed that each applicant will be supported in a financial amount corresponding to 100% of the tuition established in the partnership with the university.

"In addition to endowing graduated unemployed with new skills that will enhance the chances of finding a job in the future, we also ensure a significant support to the University of the Azores so that this institution may develop its activities in areas that can effectively contribute to the creation of qualified employment," stated the government official.

The Professional Traineeship Reconversion Programme - "Agir Agricultura" and "Agir Indústria" is addressed at the professional integration and reconversion of the unemployed in two important areas of the regional economy.

The program consists of a specific training component, with an approximate duration of two months, and a training component of in a real work context, with an approximate duration of about four months.
 
According to the Vice-President of the Government, employers who hire trainees hired after the completion of the traineeship will receive a prize in the amount of 1,000 Euros for each trainee; training entities will also received a prize of 100 Euros.

"By launching these programmes, which also call for the vital collaboration of workers and the business sector, the Government of the Azores is fulfilling its commitment to turn the Agenda for Employment Creation and Business Competitiveness not into a Government's Agenda, but into a true Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation," concluded Sérgio Ávila.