Over 960 jobless people are getting a chance to work for themselves by launching their own business through the Self-Employment Program, for which applications can be sent starting today.

Unemployed individuals registered at the Employment Agency as active job-seekers have the chance to apply for the announcement, which runs until March 10. They will attend trainings on entrepreneurship, get an assistance in developing a sustainable business plan, non-repayable grants for equipment as well as mentorship in the early stages of the business. The objective is to support jobless people in setting up their own companies and create additional employments, according to Minister of Labour and Social Policy Dime Spasov.

“As part of the 2015 government’s operational plan, the program is designed to open all possible opportunities to those who are unemployed, with an accent on the young ones. It should encourage them to make a step further and use their own capacities and capabilities for self-employment,” said Spasov.

MKD 202 million are singled out from the state budget for the Self-Employment Program implemented by the Employment Agency with support from the UNDP Office in Skopje.

“In the past eight years, 6,700 people managed to open their own business and to work for themselves. One in three are young people and one in three are women. Last year alone as part of the program, 940 small businesses were founded, which is 14% of the total number of new businesses opened last year,” said Louisa Vinton, UNDP Resident Representative to Macedonia.

73% of the businesses launched through the self-employment program are active and making profits, according to the director of the Employment Agency, Vlatko Popovski.

“It also needs to be mentioned that those firms that have prevailed hired additional staff, thus the number of employees is over 5,800. Some firms have also become medium-sized companies with up to 40 employees,” Poposki stated.