Additional 587 people from the ages of 50 to 59, people younger than 29 years, long-term jobless people - over five years - as well as individuals who grew up without parents will be employed this year with job subsidies through a financial support, part of the government-run operational employment plan.

"Employment financial support has been provided this year for 587 unemployed persons from the register of active job seekers of the Employment Agency who find it more difficult to join the labour market. Of those, about 80 people are from socially vulnerable groups: victims of domestic violence, orphans, homeless people, recovering drug addicts, parents of street children, single parents and victims of human trafficking," Minister of Labour and Social Policy Dime Spasov told a press conference on Wednesday.

A gross salary of nearly 200 euros is provided for a six-month period for every employed person. The employer is obligated to hire the person for a total of 18 months or to hire another jobless person from the register of unemployed people, added the Minister.

The job subsidy program for unemployed individuals is being implemented since 2007 being one of the most successful.

"4,668 people from these categories have been employed through the program in recent years," Spasov noted.

Over 60% of people employed through this measure keep their jobs longer than the envisaged 12 months.

"The measure is beneficial for people facing difficulties to join the labour market or wanting to find a job but are not able to open their own business," said Vlatko Popovski - director of the Employment Agency.

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