The most important focus of the OAED programs for 2018 is the OAED Subsidy for the first recruitment of 20000 unemployed in a full-time position. The aim of the programmes is to targeting young people, as it also relies on the conversion of a part-time job to a full-time job, supporting training through work for holders of a high school diploma, as well as professional degrees, while preparing the "incubator" for 5000 youth business ideas, as reported by the head of the Public Employment Service Maria Karamesini in a radio interview at the station "In Red" and Stathis Schinas.

"We are talking about full-time jobs, in all OAED programs aimed at the private and social sector of the economy, with the legal salaries", said Ms. Karamesine.

Support for entry into the labour market with the OAED subsidy for the first recruitment of 20000 unemployed

"In 2018 we start with the "first recruitment" program of employees or employees from young people's businesses up to 35 years old. We are waiting for the Government Gazette, we hope to start next week. We are talking about the recruitment of 20000 unemployed, who, if they are young people up to 29 years old, the subsidy that companies will receive will be for 18 months, while for the recruitment of unemployed people aged 30 and over, for 12 months. We are scaling up the grant for a greater opportunity for young people to enter work. We are talking about new jobs, net employment growth. In the case of the 'first recruitment' there is no prior employment, entrepreneurs should not employ staff," said Ms. Karamesine.

Strengthening the full employment of OAED

There is also a "program that enables employers to convert part-time to full-time contracts by subsidizing employer insurance contributions. We want to see if this incentive is capable of reversing the trend. We are starting it as a pilot with 3,000 seats. We'll see if employers respond. We are trying with many tools to circle the problem" of undeclared and implicit work, as he said characteristically.

Employment for training

The 2018 package of programmes for young people, in addition to the 'first recruitment', also includes job creation for people with high school diplomas. The aim is to acquire skills through work, but also to identify their shortcomings so that they can be trained afterwards, continued Ms. Karamesine.

"With a pilot program we give priority to work that will at the same time reveal the shortcomings and then be trained, instead of being trained for anything and not finding a place. We are reversing the training-employment relationship to employment-training".

There is also a programme to support the creation of new jobs for holders of a vocational degree in secondary or post-secondary vocational education.

Incubators of new business plans

He also referred to a planned pilot project to be launched by June. It is about supporting young people who have business ideas. The goal is to formulate a business plan, evaluate the best ones, and then have guidance in entering the market.

"We will not ask them to submit a ready-made business plan, but a business idea. Evaluation committees will judge which ones are mature and these will turn into a business plan. The subsidy will be 15,000-20,000 euros, maybe more", as noted by Ms. Karamesine. The opportunity will also be given to groups that want to form business schemes, either in the private or in the social economy. "The amount of the grant will change depending on the size of the business plan and the number of members, partners."

"We will issue counselling for 5,000 people, hoping in the end to come up with 2,500 viable business plans," he said.

If you want to find out more about OAED programmes, visit its website here .