The Employment Service (ZZZ) has adopted its work program for the year, outlining initiatives aimed at enhancing the labor market and decreasing unemployment in Montenegro.

During the recent Board of Directors meeting of the Employment Agency, it was revealed that the program includes actions and measures set forth in the National Employment Strategy for the period from 2021 until this year.

According to the Budget Law for this year, the Employment Agency’s budget for implementing program activities exceeds 28.6 million euros, with 3.7 million euros designated for active employment policy measures. Almost 25 million euros are allocated to the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities.

“Active employment policy measures aim to assist at least 1,130 unemployed individuals, including 256 young NEETs, following the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan. These initiatives encompass programs such as: Adult education and training for 429 people, Training for self-employment for 229 people, Employer-based training for 80 people, along with incentives for self-employment for 112 individuals and employment incentives for 103 individuals,” the statement highlighted.

A Direct Job Creation initiative is also included, which will engage unemployed individuals in temporary public interest roles for 174 people.

The programs are designed to support young people, those with inadequate education, women, members of marginalized communities, beneficiaries of material security, long-term unemployed individuals, and others facing challenges in the labor market.

“Activities will be organized to help participants maintain employment post-program, contingent on employer willingness to take responsibility for hiring these participants,” the statement indicated.

Nearly 25 million euros have been earmarked for professional rehabilitation and employment measures for people with disabilities and those facing employment challenges.

“Of this sum, 23 million euros is allocated to incentivize the employment of individuals with disabilities, one million euros for integrating 160 people through projects aimed at creating new employment opportunities for disabled individuals – grant schemes, and approximately 930 thousand euros to include at least 550 individuals in professional rehabilitation measures,” noted the ZZZ.

This year also marks the pilot phase of the Youth Guarantee Program, set to take place in three municipalities: Bijelo Polje, Nikšić, and Ulcinj, along with ongoing efforts to implement the Strategy for the Development of Women’s Entrepreneurship.

“These initiatives are intended to strengthen the labor market, providing support to the unemployed and aiding employers in finding suitable candidates,” the statement added.

This year, the Institute will enhance the provision of information and counseling services for users through motivational counseling and workshops aimed at facilitating the unemployed’s access to active employment policy programs.

“We plan to improve profiling, motivation, and individual employment plan services, ensuring all unemployed individuals receive services of equal quality, regardless of their employment office. There will also be improvements in IT support through digitalization and new applications,” stated the EZZ.

Throughout the year, the Institute will focus on collaborating with employers, including employment mediation, job vacancy advertisements, and candidate selection. Employers are required to submit job vacancy applications, which the Institute will advertise to ensure quick information access.

“Visiting employers to gather information about their needs is planned, along with offering legal and technical assistance during hiring processes. The Institute will arrange thematic meetings and job fairs, particularly focusing on seasonal employment, to increase application rates and help the unemployed find seasonal work. Continuous collaboration with employers’ associations will aim to enhance job vacancy quality,” the statement informed.

Additionally, the Institute will concentrate on enhancing its administrative and technical capacities, in line with Montenegro’s commitments towards EU membership. This includes training officials for labor mobility and aligning Montenegrin legislation with European standards.

During today’s meeting, the Board of Directors endorsed a decision to allocate nearly 500 thousand EUR in grants for funding employment projects for people with disabilities, which will facilitate the inclusion of at least 80 individuals with disabilities in project activities.

The session also reviewed the annual report from the previous year, which showed that as of December 2022, there were 33.04 thousand registered unemployed individuals, reflecting a decrease of 6.91 thousand individuals or 17.29 percent compared to the previous year. The unemployment rate dropped from 13.95 percent to 11.36 percent.

“The Board of Directors concluded that the Employment Agency will persist in its efforts to decrease unemployment and enhance work quality this year, anticipating that the adopted programs will significantly boost the labor market in Montenegro,” the statement concluded.

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