Employment support in less developed municipalities should provide better conditions for raising the level of employability of the population and improving the quality of education and lifelong learning, said Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Kemal Purišić.
He said that, in addition to the funds allocated by Montenegro for the implementation of measures to support the labor market, the support of the European Union (EU) is also significant.
"The call we are promoting today is the entire program of the EU and Montenegro for employment, education and social protection. The funds were provided from EU pre-accession funds, and this call represents the continuity of successful cooperation between the EU delegation in Montenegro and the Government," said Purišić at the press conference.
He added that most of the program's activities have already been implemented through earlier invitations and actions of relevant ministries, with the financial support of the EU delegation in Montenegro and the European Commission (EC).
"For those activities aimed at increasing employability and creating new jobs, 8,7 million euros have been set aside," specified Purišić.
He reminded that EUR 3,5 million was set aside for the program of granting grants to the unemployed to start their own business, which is implemented by the Employment Agency (ZZZ).
"To support the training and employment of the unemployed in deficit occupations, as well as the employment of members of the Roma and Egyptian population, EUR 1,6 million has been allocated," Purisic said.
He added that 470 euros have been set aside for the establishment of local partnerships for employment, and 2,7 million euros for supporting employment in less developed municipalities.
"This support is dedicated to the unemployed, employers, small and medium-sized enterprises in the private sector, to train and employ the workforce in accordance with their own and the needs of the local labor market," explained Purišić.
He said that activities in the field of employment, education and social protection will continue during the implementation of the new action document entitled Support for smart and inclusive growth, education, employment and social inclusion 2020, which will be financed from the IPA2020 budget, worth around 7,7, XNUMX million euros.
"This action plan will contribute to strengthening the inclusion of the employability of the long-term unemployed with an emphasis on social assistance beneficiaries, women, young people and people with disabilities," Purišić added.
He believes that in the process of accession to the EU, the relevant institutions should strengthen their capacities for implementing the so-called sectoral approach and assuming the obligations arising in the sector of education, employment and social policy in accordance with chapters two, 19 and 22.
Purišić said that he expects the employment support project to be successful, useful for all citizens and to the greatest extent possible for the sustainability of small and medium-sized businesses.
Director General at the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare in the Directorate for European Integration, Programming and Implementation of EU Funds, Ljiljana Simović, said that the invitation represents the continuity of the process already implemented in that government department.
She reminded that on September 4, the Government announced a call for grants for less developed areas.
Simović stated that these are the municipalities of Danilovgrad, Nikšić, Cetinje, Žabljak, Ulcinj, Plužine, Pljevlja, Kolašin, Mojkovac, Šavnik, Bijelo Polje, Berane, Rožaje, Plav, Gusinje, Andrijevica and Petnjica.
"These are municipalities from which all the unemployed can apply, that is, small and medium-sized enterprises, which will employ at least 200 people during the awarding of grants," said Simović.
In order to prepare and implement as efficiently as possible, information sessions and workshops are planned to be held in Žabljak on September 30, in Ulcinj on October 2, in Andrijevica on October 5 and in Mojkovac on October 7.
Simović stated that the minimum amount of the grant is 180 euros, and the maximum is 550 euros.
She added that it is one of the calls from the overall project of the EU and Montenegro program for the sectors of employment, social inclusion and education, worth 18 million euros, and that it is the last one they publish within the program.
Simović explained that in this way they want to encourage and support the employment sector to the greatest extent possible.
The representative of the EU delegation in Montenegro, Miguel Magro Gomez, said that the launch of the call came at the right time.
"Coronavirus has brought difficulties for the already vulnerable north and other less developed parts of the country. I am glad that we were able to allocate such an important sum for the call and I am sure that it will contribute and bring good results," Gomez said.
He said he hopes that future grant projects will support those who need it most.
"In this way, we want to encourage inclusive growth, the creation of new jobs and support the active training of the unemployed," said Gomez.
He added that since the outbreak of the pandemic, the EU has clearly shown that Montenegro is not alone in this fight.
"We showed solidarity and allocated 53 million euros of immediate and long-term support to mitigate the health, economic and social consequences of the crisis," specified Gomez.
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