Nearly 80 non-profit entities from almost all islands have applied to the 2nd Phase of the "Recuperar" (Recover) programme, a project developed by the Regional Government this year. With this programme, these institutions will promote the professional integration of more than 210 unemployed without benefits.

The "Recuperar" programme, approved by the Regional Government in February, aims to support the professional integration of unemployed without benefits who have been enrolled at the Agencies for Qualification and Employment for over four months.

For the Vice-President of the Government, the decision to extend the application period until May 15 evidenced the interest aroused by this initiative.

"The adherence to this programme has exceeded our expectations, which demonstrates the relevance of this employment support measure," stated Sérgio Ávila.

The Vice-President also stressed that "it will be only possible to assure the professional integration of 474 unemployed in the first semester of 2013 with the 'Recuperar' programme. These workers were facing a difficult unemployment situation without any benefits due to the restrictions imposed by the National Government on the allocation of unemployment benefits."

In this context, he considered that the "Recuperar" programme "is another example that shows it is possibly to reduce the effects of the measures imposed by the National Government in the Azores." The government official added that the Azorean people may count on the Regional Government as an ally that supports them in difficult times.

"When others impose more austerity, in the Azores we reinforce measures to support employment and families," stated the government official.

"At the moment when 474 families would have no form of income, we have created measures so that they can have a job and income," said Sérgio Ávila.

The Vice-President stressed that it is not be possible to solve all problems at once, but he assured that the Regional Government is doing everything within its reach to find a solution and support to those in need.

"This is a feature that distinguishes us from the rest of the country," Sérgio Ávila stressed, emphasising that the "Recuperar" Programme has accomplished two goals: the Government's goal of promoting the reintegration of the unemployed in the labour market and the institutions' goal of implementing projects that would be hardly put into operation without the Government's support."
 
The applications for "Recuperar" programme were open to the entities that intended to develop conservation and renewal projects in the areas of culture, sport, urban planning, environment and Nature by promoting the professional integration of unemployed people in these projects.

The support awarded to the beneficiaries of this programme corresponds to the regional minimum wage. This amount may be increased depending on the academic qualifications of the unemployed. In the case of unemployed graduates, it can go up to 1.5% of the regional minimum wage. The entities promoting projects eligible for this programme will receive a monthly support of 100 Euros for each unemployed.