Plan to encourage hiring fresh graduates

NEO to cover NSSF subscription fees
employers pay on new graduates hired

The National Employment Office (NEO) is starting a new program to help encourage companies to hire fresh graduates. The program, dubbed ‘the first job for youth,’ gained Cabinet approval in late July. It will be launched on September 10 and implemented by the NEO, whihc is affiliated with the Ministry of Labor.

Jean Abi Fadel, director general of the NEO said the program entails offering incentives to employers, encouraging them to provide job opportunities for young graduates. “Firms who hire fresh graduates will be fully exempted from paying social security fees (for these employees) during the first year of employment,” said Abi Fadel. These firms, he said, will be exempted from paying two thirds of the social security subscriptions during the first six months of the second year, and one third of these fees during the second six months.

The fees due to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) will be covered by the NEO. The five year-program is funded by the government, and has a budget of some $6.6 million.


Reported by Abeer Darwiche