Throughout the past year, the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) has managed a scheme for youths aged 16 to 24 with limited work experience. ETC obtained EU funds through the European Social Fund (ESF) for this initiative; €224,199 were made available for this project and 367 young people participated in the scheme.
The figures were revealed by Social Policy Minister John Dalli at a seminar organised by the ETC about this scheme. The seminar was attended by young people who benefited from this scheme as well as representatives of companies and organisations which employed them.
Each young person was placed on the scheme for 13 consecutive weeks, based on a 20-hour week. ETC was responsible for finding a placement for each participant with a company in either the private or the public sector.
Employers were not obliged to pay the young people participating in the scheme, but they were bound to offer them practical training and experience on the workplace. ETC paid participants a weekly grant.
The aim of this scheme is to break the vicious circle of 'no job, no experience; no experience, no job'. During their work exposure, job-seekers became familiar with the responsibilities involved in a job of their preference. The Job Experience Scheme also provided the youths with self-confidence and self-esteem, and lessened the risk of long-term unemployment.
Not only young people benefited from the scheme. Employers had the opportunity to evaluate the young person as a potential employee, facilitating the recruitment process. Employers also benefited from the young person's output during his or her time with the firm.
Perhaps the most important benefit for companies was the opportunity to train and orient the young person in line with the company's organisational culture and requirements.
A total of 367 young people benefited from these funds over the past year.
By the end of June, 45 per cent of those who successfully completed the scheme had found employment.
ETC organised a closing ceremony for all participants. ETC's chairman Sandra Sladden, and CEO Sue Vella presented certificates to all participants who successfully completed this scheme.