Companies are losing interest in employing last year’s students and fresh graduates through the newly state-funded traineeship programme, according to the Hospodárske noviny daily. The scheme allows for a €128 monthly subsidy per trainee, paid for by job centres. The number of graduates enrolled in the programme fell by a third in the first half of this year. “Companies know only too well that with a slow economy there is no real work for them, so they don't need to hire them," said analyst Jan Dinga.
The Labour Ministry, however, says the programme is good for students who want to gain work experience while still at school. One in three Slovaks under 25 years of age is currently jobless.
Anca Dragu
