twinning project

EU supports the implementation of the Twinning Project

On 17th of June 2015 the contract for a selected employment measure in Bitola implemented within the EU-funded Twinning Project “Support to the Employment Service Agency for implementation of active labour market measures and services” has been signed.

The Twinning Project is funding the development and implementation of active labour market measures in four Macedonian regions — Bitola, Kumanovo, Tetovo and Skopje. iSource is the company that was chosen for the implementation of this measure in cooperation with Employee Centre Bitola.

The measures aim to prepare local administrations and social partners for the challenges related to EU membership, to activate social partners in the regions to engage and cooperate in the development of regional active labour market measures, and to provide local partners with the opportunity to define and decide themselves what is the most efficient and important project for the region according to their local needs, experience and knowledge.

The global objective to which the selected measure in Bitola shall contributes to reduce unemployment, in particular of young people. The specific objective is to reduce unemployment among university graduates in IT or related subjects in Bitola region. In this regard, the project will contribute to the reduction of the outflow of young intellectuals from Pelagonia to the capital or foreign countries.

The training programme aims to upgrade the skills and technical capabilities of registered unemployed persons in the field of information technology in order to provide additional training in an area which is required on the market. In addition, participants will be actively involved in projects applying the same methodology they would be exposed to in a real business environment, which will enhance their skills and competitiveness on the labour market and will therefore increase the percentage of employment.

The IT training will be realised within three months. After successful completion of the IT training, the participants will be taught how to professionally prepare job application documents and perform interviews, followed by a basic information session on active programmes for self-employment and on how to set up a business. After passing a final test, each participant will complete a four-week internship (practical work) in an IT enterprise in Bitola.