The Vice-President of the Government announced that over 600 youngsters will participate in the next phase of the programmes "Estagiar L" and "Estagiar T" starting next January. This project represents a financial effort over four million Euros, co-funded by the PROEMPREGO programme.

These traineeships, whose application period took place in November, have a duration of six months that may be extended for another five months on the islands of S. Miguel and Terceira while on the islands of Santa Maria, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, Graciosa, Flores and Corvo the programme has an initial duration of 11 months with the possibility of being extended for another 12 months.

Sérgio Ávila stressed that this programme follows a strategy already consolidated to promote the transition of youngsters into the labour market, whose merits have been recognised not only by applicants, but also by promoting entities, ranging from companies, non-profit organisations to the central, regional and local administration.

During the traineeships, the youngsters participating in the "Estagiar L" programme will receive a financial compensation in the amount of eight-hundred Euros while youngsters participating in "Estagiar T" will receive five-hundred Euros, plus the meal allowance for both programmes.

The promoting entities are required to make the mandatory contributions to the Social Security as well as to insure trainees and pay the monthly meal allowance.

Sérgio Ávila recalled that even in the current context, the "Estagiar" programmes have been the main recruiter of university and vocational training graduates. Both programmes have registered satisfactory rates of integration into the labour market.