The Government of the Azores intends to involve over one thousand minimum wage beneficiaries in training and employment programmes by the end of the year.
 
The information was provided by the Regional Secretary for Labour and Social Solidarity during today's visit to the courses "Training for Integration" that are being held at old "Casa do Gaiato" on Faial.

According to Ana Paula Marques, 200 beneficiaries from São Miguel are currently involved in the FIOS project ((social integration and occupation programme) and another group will be created on the island of Santa Maria next week.

In the context of this nine-month programme, people will have the opportunity to train and acquire new skills that may help their integration in the labour market.

For the Regional Secretary for Labour and Social Solidarity, these innovative experiences resulting from partnerships between the Government and various institutions, such as private social solidarity institutions (IPSS), will be extended to other islands.

In the case of Faial, 63 PROSA and minimum wage beneficiaries are involved in the courses "Training for Integration." Ana Paula Marques revealed that in coming days more people will participate in the initiative "Faial Full Employment," a programme targeted at vegetable and fruit production.

According to the government official, the initiative taking place at the premises of the old "Casa do Gaiato" is "very interesting," as it provides people with the opportunity of becoming salaried workers or even self-employed workers."

After highlighting the commitment of Social Service technicians to this programme, which is managed by the Criancinhas da Horta Home, Ana Paula Marques also stressed that this initiative also recovers a building that "was virtually ignored." Moreover, this initiative is making a good use of the existing vegetable garden, whose products are being sold in the market, thus bringing an added to the people involved in this project.

Concerning the minimum wage measure, the Secretary for Labour and Social Solidarity was keen to stress that of the nearly 19,000 beneficiaries in the Azores, "50% are school-age children and about 22% are employed."

The others - those who do not have income - "are elderly citizens and other people facing integration difficulties and without professional skills. In this context, our action will be targeted at these people in collaboration with the civil society and several organisations,“ added Ana Paula Marques.