In the last 1.5 years, the “social package” of the Public Employment Service (DYPA), totaling 115 million euros, is now on track to support employment and strengthen social cohesion in the Regions of Western Macedonia and Peloponnese, with the aim of their fair and smooth transition to the post-lignite era.

As a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Just Development Transition Plan, DYPA actively participates in the creation of a new development model, in the context of our country’s independence from lignite by 2028.

Speaking to APE-MPE, the commander of DYPA, Spyros Protopsaltis, states: “The transition to a modern and “green economy” is a priority and a challenge for DYPA, especially with regard to the new conditions that are emerging in the labor landscape of its lignite areas country. With specialized and targeted programs, DYPA supports employment in practice and strengthens the social cohesion of the just transition areas, in close cooperation with local communities and local agencies. Our aim is to support the “green” development of professional and business activities and to contribute to the completion of a truly just transition, which will leave no one behind”.

The programms

In particular, two programs are already “running”, with a total budget of 70 million euros, for the creation of new jobs, which support the unemployed and businesses in areas affected by de-lignitization.

On February 15, applications for 1,000 work experience positions for young people aged 18-29 in the lignite regions began. The first 2,000 positions were filled very quickly, as businesses in Western Macedonia and Peloponnese regions took advantage of the program immediately, and the additional 1,000 were secured with a budget increase of 8.5 million euros, with a total budget of 22.5 million euros. 65% of the positions were filled by unemployed women, while 47% of the young people hired were graduates.

The duration of the program is seven months and DYPA pays compensation equal to the minimum wage and a proportion of gifts and leave allowance.

The program is addressed to private sector businesses, as well as to businesses, institutions and organizations of the public sector and local government businesses of the first and second degree, which regularly carry out economic activity in the Region of Western Macedonia and in areas of the Region of Peloponnese (municipalities of Megalopolis, Tripoli, Gortynia, Sparta, Oichalia and Kalamata).

Also, on Monday, February 20, the 3rd cycle of the labor subsidy program began, which grants businesses up to 16,794 euros for each hiring of an unemployed, former employee in a business that was negatively affected by the effects of de-lignitization.

The duration of the program is 12-18 months, the salary and contribution subsidy rate varies between 75%-100%, while the subsidy amount varies from 700 euros to 933 euros monthly and from 8,397 euros to 16,794 euros in total, depending on its category unemployed and the branch of the company he worked for. Holiday gifts and vacation allowance are included in the grant.

Of the total 3,400 positions in the program, 1,300 positions have already been filled, as there was strong interest from businesses, while it is important that 63% of the positions were filled by unemployed women and 36% by long-term unemployed.

The program, with a total budget of 48 million euros, is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund), through the EP. “Human Resource Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014-2020” and is addressed to businesses operating in the Region of Western Macedonia and in the municipalities of Megalopolis, Tripoli, Gortynia, Sparta, Oichalia and Kalamata.

The results are particularly satisfactory

According to DYPA, the data from the two employment programs that were designed specifically for the specific areas and started to be implemented from November 2021, are considered particularly satisfactory, as in the space of one year they led to more than 3,300 recruitments, supporting more than 2,600 local businesses, mainly in the branches of wholesale and retail trade, scientific and technical activities, tourism and catering, health-social care, service provision, education, etc.

In total, from September 2019 to the end of 2022, 9,224 citizens of Western Macedonia benefited from DYPA employment programs. Specifically, 6,802 new jobs were created (64% women, 46% young people up to 29 years old), 1,843 participated in community service (58% women) and 579 new businesses were financed.

The aim is to strengthen the social fabric

However, apart from the promotion of employment, the aim of DYPA’s actions is the transition of the production model and, above all, the strengthening of the social fabric and the prevention of social problems.

In this context, DYPA upgrades the skills of the labor force of the lignite regions, through innovative professional training programs, such as the online program “Innovative Methods in the Agricultural Sector”, which was completed, in collaboration with the University of Western Macedonia and the “Integrated Program Saffron Cultivation Training”, following a relevant request of the Compulsory Cooperative of Saffron Producers of Kozani.

In total, 17,956 citizens of Western Macedonia participated in training actions (8,208 unemployed and 9,748 employed), while 1,525 pupils and students were trained at the DYPA Apprenticeship Schools of Kastoria, Kozani, Ptolemaida and Florina, as well as at the IEK DYPA Ptolemaida.