New measures to support the professional integration of immigrants and young people & employment incentives

• Integrar Program | Ministerial Order No. 218/2024/1
• Iniciar Internship | Ministerial Order No. 219/2024/1
• + Employment Measure | Ministerial Order No. 220/2024/1
• + Talent Measure | Ministerial Order No. 220/2024/1

These regulations will come into force on 24 September 2024, with applications subject to their official opening by the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP, I.P.).

To benefit from these measures, the following key conditions apply, among others:

“INTEGRAR” PROGRAM

• Target group: Third-country nationals registered with the IEFP, who are unemployed, looking for their first job, seeking a job change, or wishing to access vocational training.
• Objective: Individualised support aimed at reducing barriers to labour market entry.

“INICIAR” INTERNSHIP MEASURE

• Target group: Individuals registered with the IEFP who meet one of the following conditions:
  - Aged under 35, holding a Level 4 or 5 qualification of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF);
  - Aged over 35, not receiving an old-age pension, and having obtained a Level 4 or 5 qualification within the last 24 months.
  - Individuals with disabilities and/or impairments, holding an NQF Level 4 or 5 qualification, or lower.
• Duration:
  - Internships last 6 months (non-renewable).
  - 12 months for participants with disabilities/impairments.
• Internship Grant: Paid by the hosting organisation based on the trainee’s NQF qualification level, with the following minimum monthly amounts:
  - 1.7 times the Social Support Index (IAS) for NQF Level 4;
  - 1.8 times the IAS for NQF Level 5.
  - In other cases, the monthly grant is 1.3 times the IAS.
• Financial Support:
  - Standard rate – 65% of the internship grant cost, plus meal and transport allowances (where applicable) and work accident insurance.
  - Increased rate (80%) for:
  Internships in professions with gender under-representation.
  Internships in interior regions, as defined by law.
  Internships for individuals with disabilities/impairments.
  When the trainee is offered a permanent contract within 20 working days of completing the internship.

+ EMPLOYMENT MEASURE

• Target group: Individuals registered with the IEFP for at least 3 consecutive months.
  - Not eligible: Young people aged 35 or under with an NQF Level 6 qualification or higher (bachelor’s degree or above).
• Employment Contract: Must be written, permanent, and full-time.
• Financial Support: Equivalent to 12 times the IAS (€509.26 per IAS), with a 35% increase in the following cases:
  - Hiring a person with disabilities/impairments.
  - Hiring a young person aged up to 35.
  - Hiring a long-term unemployed individual.
  - Job located in an interior region.
  - Hiring unemployed individuals from the under-represented gender in a given profession.
  The increases can be combined up to a maximum of four.
• Incompatibility with other support: This measure cannot be combined with other direct employment incentives for the same job, including exemptions or reductions in Social Security contributions.

+ TALENT MEASURE

• Target group:
  - Young people registered with the IEFP, or
  - Individuals who have emigrated permanently for at least 12 months, aged 35 or under, with an NQF Level 6 qualification or higher.

This measure includes:

I. + TALENT INTERNSHIP MEASURE

• Duration:
  - 6 months (non-renewable).
  - 12 months for individuals with disabilities/impairments.
• Internship Grant: Paid monthly by the hosting organisation, with the following minimum amounts:
  - 2.2 times the IAS for NQF Level 6;
  - 2.4 times the IAS for NQF Level 7;
  - 2.6 times the IAS for NQF Level 8.
• Financial Support:
  - Standard rate – 65% of the internship grant cost, plus meal and transport allowances (where applicable) and work accident insurance.
  - Increased rate (80%) for:
  Internships in professions with gender under-representation.
  Internships in interior regions, as defined by law.
  Internships for individuals with disabilities/impairments.
  When the trainee is offered a permanent contract within 20 working days of completing the internship.

II. + TALENT EMPLOYMENT MEASURE

• Financial Support: Equivalent to 18 times the IAS, with a 35% increase in the same cases outlined under the + Employment Measure (except for young people aged up to 35, as this is already covered by the main eligibility criteria).
• Employment Contract: Must be written, permanent, and full-time.
• Incompatibility with other support: This measure cannot be combined with other direct employment incentives for the same job.