Background information

To face the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 disease pandemic and in a context where worsening labour market conditions are anticipated, the Government established as one of the priority axes of the Economic and Social Stabilization Program, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers no. 41/2020, of 6 of June, the maintenance of employment and the gradual resumption of economic activity.

In this context the «ATIVAR.PT - Reinforced Program of Support to Employment and Vocational Training ( ATIVAR.PT — Programa Reforçado de Apoios ao Emprego e à Formação Profissional ), was launched, which is designed to ensure an adequate and rapid response with broadband support programs for hiring and internships, in articulation with programs for specific sectors and audiences. The Resolution 206/2020 of 27 August 2020 regulates the measure on Internships ATIVAR.PT, which consists of strengthening the supports to integrate young people in the labour market and retraining the unemployed.

Content of measure

[ATIVAR.PT Internships]((https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/PT-2020-27_1068.html), which replace Professional Internships ( Estágios Profissionais ), is a measure that increases the internship grants while taking into account qualifications. The internship grant for a trainee with a degree, for example, will increase from €719 to €790. The increase in the grant will vary, for candidates with education above secondary level, between 7.1% and 30.6%.

On the other hand, and on a transitional basis (until 30 June 2021), candidates up to 35 years old will be covered (currently they can only be up to 30 years old) and people over 35 years old will be eligible if they have been unemployed longer than six months (instead of the current 12). The contribution of the IEFP for the grant rises from 65% to 75% in the general regime and the employment bonus, awarded to those who convert internship contracts into open-ended contracts, will increase from a maximum value of €2,194 to €3,072 in the general regime.

Use of measure

Not estimated.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed Youth (18-25) in employment	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies Public employment service	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

As stated in the Ordinance regulating the Internships measure ATIVAR.PT, the social partners represented at the tripartite Standing Committee for Social Concertation were consulted.

Furthermmore, this measure will be evaluated by the Standing Committee for Social Concertation within three years from the entry into force of this Ordinance.

Views and reactions

Social partners supported the measure.

Sources

• 27 July 2020: Portaria n.º 206/2020 (dre.pt)