More than 696 Azorean youngsters started traineeships in January under "Estagiar L" and "Estagiar T" programmes
The second phase of the "Estagiar L" and "Estagiar T" programmes started in January with 696 trainees, 405 of whom hold a bachelor degree and 291 hold a vocational training diploma.
With the start of this phase, there will be 1,565 participating in traineeships under these programmes. The remaining 969 youngsters started their traineeships in the first phase, which began in October 2014.
"Estagiar" is a programme created by the Azorean Government with the aim of supporting Azorean youngsters in their first contact with the labour market. They will have the opportunity to conclude their academic or vocational training with a professional traineeship at companies or at public and private entities. The traineeship can last up to a maximum period of 111 months.
The training period for young graduates ("Estagiar L") on the islands of Santa Maria, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, Graciosa, Flores and Corvo can go up to 23 months.
For the Vice-President of the Government "the large membership of youngsters to the 'Estagiar' programme is a clear evidence of the success of a measure that can be considered as safety factor for youngsters in the period immediately following the completion of their studies."
"On the other hand, the programme is an important support tool to the activities of the companies based on the less populated islands. It is also a stimulus to the maintenance of the youth population, who will be encouraged to invest in the development of their own communities," added Sérgio Ávila.
"This investment currently represents an amount exceeding eight million Euros in the implementation of the two phases of 'Estagiar L' and 'Estagiar T' programmes. It is an investment in the professional skills of youngsters and their future as well as in the increased competitiveness of companies, which will contribute to the promotion and development of the regional economy," said the government official.
Moreover, the Vice-President of the Government also stressed that "this programme is complemented by the Incentive Programme for the Professional Integration of Trainees who did their traineeship under the "Estagiar" programme; the latter has enabled the companies involved in this initiative to hire more than 420 young trainees, which is extremely positive.
This programme "represents the continuation of the support provided to youngsters in their integration into the labour market. It also reinforces the support provided to companies in hiring more qualified human resources, such as the case of young graduates and youngsters with vocational skills that have completed their traineeships," stressed Sérgio Ávila.
The "Estagiar" programme was recently improved, particularly by raising the age limit of recipients from 28 to 30 years and by giving youngsters holding postgraduate degrees the possibility to apply for the programme as long as within the deadline stipulated in the application requirements.
In order to strengthen the integration of youngsters into the labour market, the promoters that extended the traineeship period will have to provide an employment contract for a minimum period of six years with, at least, 50 percent of the total number of trainees who started the project.