2025 persons who were given work experience through the Employment Aid Programme were subsequently engaged full time by the companies which offered them the experience, minister Dolores Cristina said today.
The minister said this was an 85% success rate for the scheme, which is operated by the Employment and Training Corporation.
The minister this morning visited the offices of Banif Bank, which participated in the scheme. The bank offered work experience to 21 individuals, 14 of whom were subsequently engaged full time. Another four are still on their work experience.
The scheme is co-financed by the European Social Fund with a budget of €8.2m.
It is open to disadvantaged persons or others with special needs, who are helped to integrate themselves in the jobs market. Employers are paid half the salary they pay the persons they take on for work experience.