Prisoners believe that access to free training, flexible working hours and support from an employment centre would make it easier for them to find a job, a study has shown.

The study, carried out by the University of Malta’s Institute of Forensic Studies as part of the EU Phoenix (Preparing and Handling Opportunities for Employment: saying No to Isolation and Xenophobia) project, found that 80 percent of prisoners felt they integrated well in society once they were out but pleaded with employers for a second chance and a job.

Some 85 percent of inmates interviewed said they would be willing to train for a job and some 40 percent were willing to fork out money for training.

The project, carried out together with representatives from Italy, Lithuania and Germany, aimed to help disadvantaged members of society, who had difficulties in securing a job, by teaching them new skills and empowering them to look for employment

In the case of Malta, the targeted disadvantaged group consisted of inmates aged between 21 and 30.