| Main partners | Provincial Government of Burgenland, Public Employment Service, Federal Social Welfare Office, Economic Chamber, Chamber of Labour, Austrian Trade Union Federation, Federation of Austrian Industries, Agricultural Chamber of Burgenland, School Board of Burgenland, Wirtschaftsservice Burgenland AG, Association of Municipalities, Association of Social Democratic Municipal Representatives, Gender Mainstreaming Officers of Burgenland |
| Parties to the contract | Provincial Government of Burgenland, Public Employment Service |
| Description of the partnership | The Pact Burgenland was entered into between the parties to the contract in 2001. The partnership comprises a Steering Committee (responsible for adopting the strategy and defining the framework and priorities on an annual basis), a Steering Group (deliberates on projects proposed and recommends formal project approval in case of a favourable decision) and a Pact Coordination Unit (within Wirtschaftsservice Burgenland AG – WIBAG). |
| Core function of the Pact | The Employment Pact defines overarching coordination tasks for joint projects of the partners of the Pact as a core function. |
| Contractual period | January 2007 – December 2013 |
| Objectives | The objectives of the Employment Pact Burgenland are to continue and strengthen cooperation and networks at regional, national and international level as well as to develop and implement innovative regional and sectoral labour market projects. Major goals are to facilitate access to the labour market, to combat unemployment and social exclusion as well as to improve employability by taking into account specific regional problems and opportunities. |
| Range of measures and target groups | The range of measures covers qualification, enhancing adaptation to structural change, new employment opportunities, integration of people with disabilities and of disadvantaged persons as well as improved access to knowledge and advanced education. Among the target groups are long-term unemployed persons, older people, women, people with disabilities and disadvantaged persons, those furthest away from the labour market and young people. |
| Activities and results 2008 | As a result of the successful realisation of “Qualifizierungsverbund Gesundheitstourismus” (“Qualification Alliance for Health Tourism”) in the Structural Fund period 2000-2006 (Objective 1 Burgenland), the Qualification Alliance for Health Tourism for the period 2008-2013 was approved in 2008. The Seewinkel Thermal Spa in Frauenkirchen was admitted as the fifth lead enterprise to the Alliance to ensure that qualification measures can be implemented throughout the Burgendland region. In the framework of regional “round tables“ at district level, vocational guidance projects for young people, employment projects for long-term unemployed persons as well as projects for persons furthest away from the labour market were realised. Building on the experience of the past years, in 2009 the idea was conceived to set up theme-specific working groups at sectoral level. To raise public awareness of the Employment Pact Burgenland, a TEP Burgenland website was installed. |
| Priorities for action 2009 | Besides measures specifically developed for the region, the Pact will increasingly address transition problems at sectoral level in 2009. In the framework of a working group on young people and vocational guidance, school-work transition will be discussed, and the experience gained in the past is to be made available at a larger scale in vocational guidance projects. The theme “social assistance/unemployment assistance transition” will be addressed in another working group. The employment projects for long-term jobless persons are continued. The Vocational Guidance Action Week, which has been very successful in the past, will be staged throughout Burgenland to promote sustainable effects. Concepts for new themes and target groups are prepared in the context of developing innovative labour market policy pilot projects in the districts. |
| Financing and funding | In the framework of the Employment Pact Burgenland, the Action budget for implementing pilot projects is financed under the ESF, Operational Programme Phasing Out Burgenland 2007-2013; Pact coordination is also funded under this programme. |
| Website | http://www.tep-burgenland.at |
| Pact coordination | Wirtschaftsservice Burgenland AG (WIBAG) Tina Parits, Tel.: +43 / 5 / 9010-2324, tina.parits@wibag.at Manuela Makovich, Tel.: +43 / 5 / 9010-2327, manuela.makovich@wibag.at |
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TEP Burgenland 2009 |