The programme for the long-term unemployed covers all those who have been out of work for more than ten months. People over 45 years of age qualify even if they have been unemployed for a shorter period. Provision for social exclusion helps people with particular difficulties in finding jobs like migrants and those out of work longer than two years. People with disabilities are also given assistance. In these cases the comprehensive approach involving individualised supports is particularly important for successful job outcomes.
All programmes guarantee equality of access to men and women.
This starts with forecasting trends and involves the improvement of training systems. The workers are trained in order to improve job security within their own firms and enhance their chances of jobs elsewhere. Special efforts are made to include small firms. Employers and unions are fully involved in the planning and management of these programmes. The role of the ESF in these programmes is to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce essential for the development of these regions.