The programme Encouraging Employment of the Elderly - Active until Retirement aims to encourage employers to hire unemployed older workers on a permanent contract, according to the Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy.

It is thus expected to improve their access to the labour market, reducing their unemployment and encouraging them to look for a job.

A call for employers to apply for subsidies will be published by the national Employment Service.

To be eligible for an 11,000-euro grant, the employer will have to hire workers for a full 40-hour working week on a permanent contract or at least until they meet retirement criteria.