The Regional Government has decided to extend the length of the "Recuperar" programme by extending its duration for another six months. The changes to this initiative will also allow non-profit institutions working in the areas of social support and education to develop projects under this programme.

The Vice-President of the Regional Government stated that the main goal is "to intensify the efforts that have been developed towards the promotion of employment by supporting the integration of the unemployed without benefits in the labour market."

"The 'Recuperar' programme has exceeded all expectations. It currently supports a total 760 people, promoting their integration in the labour market.
This programme is the result of a joint effort undertaken by regional public administration services, local authorities, villages, cooperatives and non-profit organisations," stressed Sérgio Ávila.

By extending the duration of projects and expanding the areas where they can be developed, the Vice-President said the "conditions are being created to foster the integration of the unemployed in the labour market as well as to reinforce the support to entities in the development of projects that could not have been implemented without the Government's support."

The amendments to the "Recuperar" programme take immediate effect and will also apply to the projects that are about to be concluded, which, according to Sérgio Ávila, "provides stability to workers and to the entities promoting these projects."

For the Vice-President of the Government of the Azores, the extension of the length and scope of this occupation programme "significantly reinforces the support to the unemployed who were no longer receiving benefits due to the restrictions imposed by the National Government on the unemployment benefit period."
The support allocated to the unemployed covered by this programme corresponds to the regional minimum wage, which "will be increased in accordance to the qualifications of each unemployed."

The unemployed who have not completed basic education (9th form) will receive an amount corresponding to the regional minimum wage. In turn, the unemployed who hold a secondary school diploma (12th form) are entitled to a bonus that corresponds to 1.25 of the minimum wage, while unemployed graduates will be supported with a monthly bonus equivalent to 1.5 of the regional minimum wage.

In turn, the entities promoting eligible projects for this programme will continue to allocate a monthly sum of 100 Euros per worker, which is also a way of making entities responsible for the integration of workers in the labour market.