Some 10,000 people mainly from the ranks of the long-term unemployed could land jobs in the near future, with the Labour and Education Ministries planning to send them back to school to gain the required skills.
Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Jan Richter stated on Thursday that there are approximately 112,000 jobless people who have only completed primary school or didn't manage to complete compulsory education. Many of them have been unemployed for more than 12 years. The ministries are therefore launching a pilot project entitled 'Back to School', which is aimed at bolstering the qualifications of these people. “They would go through six or ten months at vocational schools at which they’d receive education and undergo practical training within a particular field of study so that they could be prepared with respect to the real needs of the labour market,” explained Richter.
To launch the project, the Education, Science, Research and Sport Ministry will approach state-run secondary vocational schools across the country that would be willing and capable of offering this type of retraining. The Labour Ministry will allocate €25 million to the project, which should kick off at some time next year. Participation will be voluntary, with the training open to people of up to 40 years of age. Those who sign up will be entitled to financial assistance towards their travel expenses and additional charges emerging from the course. Upon successful completion of the course, the participants will obtain a certificate issued by respected industrial and production associations. “If they manage to acquire an education and obtain a certificate, that's for life. That would change their opportunities, their skills and attractiveness to employers,” said Richter.
