Another 159 unemployed from the register Employment Institute of Montenegro (ZZZCG) received grants for employment and starting a business, from European Union funds, in the amount of three to 7.5 thousand euros.
The total value of the grants awarded today, for persons who are less employable from the records, amounts to 1,2 million euros, the PR Center reports.
This was announced at the press conference he attended Acting Director of the Employment Office, Goran Folić, signed contracts with future beneficiaries of direct, European, grant support for the unemployed, which was awarded to the Institute through the "Grant Program for Self-Employment - For Your Business"
Acting Director of the Directorate for Labor and Employment in the Ministry of Economic Development Jevrosima Pejović she assessed that the project represents an outstanding example of the implementation of active measures for employment, stating that it clearly indicates that continuity in the implementation of incentive measures for self-employment is one of the most important prerequisites for motivating unemployed persons to start their own business.
"This is supported by the very dynamics of the implementation of this project, which is characterized by the continuous growth of interested applicants throughout the years of implementation, from the initial 135 applications, as many as there were during the first call, to 575 applications, as many as there were during the following year, and as many as 1.027 applications, as many as either this year, as part of the third call," said Pejović.
According to her, this project, by awarding grants for starting their own business to unemployed persons, encourages employment and entrepreneurship, and at the same time contributes to the reduction of the gray economy, "because entrepreneurship is one of the most important sources of employment and it often happens that a number of entrepreneurial activities take place in the informal zone".
"In the coming period, we will work on incentives for the transition to formal streams and further improvement of the business environment, as well as the reduction of the tax burden on wages from the current 39 percent to 21 percent, which was announced by the Marshall Plan and which will further stimulate economic development, but also open up opportunities for current users of grants and employers for better business results and additional employment in the future", said Pejović. The support of the European Union to Montenegro through the Action document "Support for smart and inclusive growth - employment and social inclusion 2020", which is financed from the budget of the Pre-accession Support Instrument for 2020, with a total value of around 7,7 million euros, represents the continuation of support. Preparatory activities for the start of the implementation of the projects that will be financed through this Action Document are underway, and in 2022 we expect the start of the implementation of joint projects that will give the wind behind Montenegro's approach to the European Union, concluded Pejović.
Head of the Department for Cooperation in the EU Delegation Ingve Engstrom expressed his satisfaction that EU support makes a tangible contribution to the quality of life of citizens, in this case through the awarding of new grants for self-employment to 159 unemployed persons in Montenegro.
"This non-refundable financial support for the unemployed is part of the Joint Program of the EU and Montenegro for employment, education and social protection. For this program, the European Union and Montenegro allocated a total of 18 million euros, including 3,5 million euros of direct grant support for the unemployed. "Since October 2019, through three consecutive calls, we have awarded grants for self-employment to a total of 459 unemployed people across the country, giving them the opportunity to realize their dreams and improve their livelihood by establishing their own business," emphasized Engstrom.
Acting Director of ZZZCG, Goran Folić, said that this valuable, concrete and visible support to the Montenegrin economy and especially, in this difficult situation with the COVID 19 pandemic, to our weakened entrepreneurship is a bright example of dedicated, three-year work and the result of exceptional and intensive cooperation between Montenegro, the European Commission and the EU Delegation in our country.
"In this way, the EU contributes to reducing the gray economy and poverty, as well as increasing employment. It encourages entrepreneurship, that is, it creates preconditions for opening new jobs... Thanks to the "Grant Program for Self-Employment", another 159 unemployed people from the records of the Employment Service received non-reimbursable, European funds for employment and starting a business," said Folić.
He said that the total value of the grants awarded today, to hard-to-employ people from the register, young people, women, and the long-term unemployed, amounts to 1,2 million, emphasizing that more than 70 percent of beneficiaries, who received this type of support from the EU through the first two calls, it still works.
"Therefore, from this place, I will send my most sincere congratulations to today's winners, as well as to those who are already successfully using the grant, and wish them much success. May the European funds allocated to you be initial motivation and encouragement! That you spend them efficiently and specifically for the realization of the planned idea that will give birth to a sustainable, domestic, valid business! May you all work and may you all persevere! Yes, in the coming period, stitch the work. Employ family members from the records of the Employment Service. Your survival in Montenegro strengthens the entire community and justifies the expediency of investing in entrepreneurship," said Folić.
The grant program for self-employment" is implemented by the Institute in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare, and the Directorate for Contracting and Financing of EU Aid (CFCU) is the contracting institution with which the contract was signed, from which today's grant allocation is financed.
Representative of the Directorate for Contracting and Funding of EU Aid Aleksandar Marković he said that the implementation of the contract within the project aims to increase the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of active measures on the labor market, as well as reduce unemployment, by activating the mentioned measures that promote self-employment.
"We believe that the financial support that is provided through this grant is a strong incentive for unemployed persons, additionally affected by the situation with the Kovid19 virus, which will be provided not only with starting a business and employment, but also with the sustainability of the project," said Marković.
He assessed that the self-employment project contributes to strengthening the capacity of knowledge and experience of end users, through adequate monitoring of project implementation, organization of motivational and support workshops for interested project applicants.
"This is supported by the fact that the interest of applicants has been increasing from invitation to invitation," added Marković.
Winner of the Đorđe Luket grant he said that he had no funds for his business idea - the establishment of a football club, but that he has now provided them with the support of ZZZCG.
"This is a project that means to all of us, especially the young and long-term unemployed, to realize our ideas, to become entrepreneurs and our own people. I thank ZZZCG for these funds to put the idea into practice. We want to provide all the children from the club with what we are aiming for and bring the club to a higher level," Luketa said.
Mia Pejovic, who also received a grant, said that she has been producing recycled paper for five years, and that the money she received from ZZZCG means that she can upgrade that business.
"It's an eco story, paper recycling. It is planned to carry out works aimed at the tourism promotion of Montenegro. I am also working on the realization of cups for sprouting plants. All of these will be paper products," said Pejović.
Grant winner Emica Krivokapić she said that she received 7,5 thousand euros for a business that envisages the cultivation of California earthworms and the production of humus - earthworms.
"I think we will be the first and only registered producer of hummus in Montenegro. For now, me and my husband are working. I hope that it will be necessary to hire others seasonally, taking into account the principle of the job, and later we will see if something expands," said Krivokapić.
Up to 30 percent of the funds will be paid directly to the users within 80 days. The remaining part will be paid after submitting all supporting documents on acceptable costs incurred during the execution of the project. The newly registered activity must be in operation for at least 12 months.
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