More than 2,500 applications were submitted by businesses for the 3 new "new generation" programmes of the CIFA to boost employment which "opened" on Wednesday. The funding is provided through the Recovery and Resilience Fund and amounts to 300 million euros.

The new actions subsidise the creation of new jobs to recruit 30,000 unemployed. Particular emphasis is placed on young people, women, the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Specifically, applications for the following programmes started yesterday:

Work subsidy programme for 10,000 long-term unemployed people aged 45 and over

The total overall budget is 120 million. euros. The scheme will finance up to 80% of salary and contributions for 18 months. There is an obligation to maintain the position for 6 months. The maximum grant is EUR 13,709. per job. Priority will be given to businesses in the green and digital economy.

Work experience programme for 10,000 unemployed 18-30 year olds aiming at upgrading qualifications and preparing young, at least compulsory education graduates for labour market integration

The total budget amounts to 68 million. euros. The programme will last 7 months . Beneficiaries will be paid an allowance equal to theminimum net wage. Full social security contributionswill also be paid, as well as a proportion of holiday bonuses and holiday allowance.

Work subsidy programme for 10,000 unemployed people facing significant obstacles to their reintegration into work

The total budget amounts to €112 million. euro and has a twofold objective:

• 3,000 unemployed people belonging to specific and vulnerable social groups (e.g. people with disabilities, drug addicts, victims of gender violence or human trafficking, etc.). The scheme will finance up to 75% of salary and contributions for 24 months. There is an obligation to keep the post for 8 months. The maximum grant is EUR 16 800 per job.
• 7,000 unemployed people facing serious obstacles to their integration or reintegration into the labour market (e.g. single-parent families, mothers returning to the labour market after bringing up their children, the long-term unemployed, unemployed people over 55 years old, unemployed people without compulsory education, Roma, etc.). The scheme will fund up to 75% of salary and contributions for 12 months. There is an obligation to keep the post for 4 months. The maximum grant is EUR 8 400 per post.

The labour subsidy programmes are aimed at to private companies and general private sector employers who are regularly engaged in economic activity. For employment people with disabilities, beneficiaries are additionally the enterprises of Local Authorities of the first and second degree, while for the work experience programme, beneficiaries are also the Social and Solidarity Economy bodies.

Employers interested in participating can submit their application exclusively online at the following link: https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/epikheirematike-drasterioteta/apaskholese-prosopikou/summetokhe-epikheireseon-ergodoton-se-programmata-katartises-anergon .

After the application is submitted, the DYPA confirms that the employer meets the requirements and the DYPA's job counsellors nominate candidates with the specialty and qualifications declared by the employer. The employer selects the beneficiary and proceeds with the recruitment.

One of the important innovations in the new labour subsidy schemes is the possibility to opt for the state aid scheme.

In particular, the company can choose:

• 1) either the de minimis state aid scheme, in which case it must not have reduced its staff in the 3 months preceding the application and must not have received state aid funding of more than EUR 200,000 in the previous 3 years (current and 2 previous years)
• 2) either the General Exemption Regulation (GER) and has not reduced its staff in the 12 months preceding the application and has not received State aid funding of more than EUR 5,000,000 per year

For the relevant Public Calls and for more information, please visit: https://www.dypa.gov.gr/more-energhitikes-politikes-apaskholisi .