Scheme for Unemployed Young Graduates to Gain Work Experience in Businesses/Organizations

The Scheme aims to provide incentives for the employment of individuals who:

1. a) Are under 35 years old and registered as unemployed at the Public Employment Service Offices.
2. b) Hold a degree/tertiary education qualification of at least three years of study or a postgraduate qualification of at least one year of study.
3. c) Do not have relevant work experience related to their studies for more than three months. The duration of work that was a requirement for obtaining their academic qualifications or for obtaining the right to practice a profession is not counted.
4. d) Excludes graduates who participated in the corresponding Schemes of 2013 and 2014 for more than three months.
5. e) Are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus or citizens of any other Member State of the European Economic Area or those who have the same rights as the above.

Target Audience: Public and semi-governmental sector businesses/organizations, municipalities, private enterprises, and Non-Profit Organizations.

Eligibility Criteria for Businesses/Organizations:

• Engage in activities in areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and are registered in the Social Insurance Register as employers or self-employed individuals.
• Have a suitable mentor who will undertake the guidance and supervision of the unemployed person.
• Do not employ illegal or undeclared workers.
• The business/organization employs the graduate for at least 25 hours per week.
• Have not reduced the number of their employees in the positions where the unemployed are intended to be placed, after April 3, 2014. It is understood that reductions due to voluntary departure, retirement, and dismissal for serious misconduct are excluded.
• The offered positions must be those for which a degree, academic qualification is required.
• The offered positions will not include individuals who are major shareholders, owners, or Directors of the businesses/organizations, their spouses, or those connected by first or second-degree blood or marital relationship with them.
• The offices or other premises from where they conduct their business activities are located outside the home.
• There are no active administrative sanctions from AnAD that affect their participation in the Scheme.

Amount and Duration of Funding: €125 per week & contributions to the Social Insurance Fund and the Social Cohesion Fund, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation for a period of 6 months.

Application Submission Period: 25/05/2015 – 31/07/2015