The combat to unemployment, the strengthening of measures to minimise the negative effects of unemployment and the promotion in the professional qualifications of the Azorean population will continue to be the main lines of action of the Government for 2012.

The announcement was made yesterday by the Regional Secretary for Labour and Social Solidarity during a hearing with the Commission on Parliamentary Affairs, Environment and Labour of the Azorean Parliament on the Regional Annual Plan and Budget proposals for the Autonomous Region of the Azores in 2012.

Under the Plan and Budget for 2012 in the area of Labour and Consumer Defence, The Government will reinforce professional training in the context of Reactivar programme.

According to Ana Paula Marques, the training of workers is another matter that deserves special attention by the Azorean Government in the Regional Annual Plan and Budget for 2012.

In addition, the certification of skills acquired by Azorean workers during their professional life is another priority for next year. It is estimated that over 3,500 Azoreans have already benefited from this measure.

With regard to the employability of youngsters, the government official highlighted three "key" areas: the support to vocational training, an estimated 6,200 youngsters are currently undergoing training programmes; the transition programmes to working life, such as the "Estagiar L, T and U" traineeships, Community initiative programme Leonardo da Vinci and the Assembly of European Regions programme - Eurodyssey; and the monitoring of young graduates and their subsequent conversion to areas of higher employability.

As Ana Paula Marques noted, about 80% of the unemployed are monitored and referred by public employment services in the Region.

The Regional Secretary for Labour and Social Solidarity ensured that the Region has the necessary mechanisms to support the unemployed, thus reducing the effects of the current context.

Regarding Pro-Emprego, the Regional Secretary pointed out that over 68 million Euros were approved this year under the European Social Fund, which corresponds to a reinforcement of funding for training and professional qualification.