1. EQUAL WOMEN IS EFFICIENT Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci – Learning partnership Project Number: 2013-1-ES1-LEO04-72258 Best Practice PROJECT “Back To Work” 2003-2005 Budapest 25th – 28th February 2015

2. DESCRIPTION Age, training and education are the main factors affecting the level of unemployment, the selection of personnel management and the realization of unemployed women and men in the labor market. In Bulgaria the percentage of unemployed women over the age of '50 is 19.9%. The absence of profession and qualification affects the duration of the registration and because of that more than half of unemployed women - 51.1% are long term unemployed and have been for the most time on the labor market (12.7 months) EQUAL WOMEN IS EFFICIENT Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci – Learning partnership Project Number: 2013-1-ES1-LEO04-72258

3. OBJECTIVE The MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT is creating conditions for equal access of women over '50 to employment and maintaining employment by improving the quality of the workforce. The immediate objectives of the project Reducing the number of unemployed women and women discouraged among people over 50 - years of age; Providing conditions for professional realization and support the professional growth of women returning to work after a leave due to pregnancy, childbirth and adoption, and raising a child up to 2 or 3 - years.

4. EQUAL WOMEN IS EFFICIENT Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci – Learning partnership Project Number: 2013-1-ES1-LEO04-72258 ADVANTAGES FOR TRAINEES The participants in the project are trained and prequalified with the purpose of helping them find jobs, maintain their current employment and/or professional growth. There are a number of ways that the educational process is made more comfortable for the subjects. Examples: The Labour office will pay monthly transportation and accommodation costs and scholarships for unemployed persons under the project; guide unemployed persons to promote the employment in new jobs for the time during which the employee is on training; Signing contracts with employers to provide monthly payment. As a result of the implementation of the project activities is expected 400 unemployed women over 50 to be trained in order to enhance their employability.

5. EQUAL WOMEN IS EFFICIENT Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci – Learning partnership Project Number: 2013-1-ES1-LEO04-72258 ADVANTAGES FOR THE TRAINERS Learning is a two-way process. Therefore alongside with the training of women 50+ their trainers receive their life experience. Also in a way they are training their future multipliers. The women participating in the project might become substitute trainers, thus helping with the educational process. The trainers add an additional course in compliance with the current needs of the healthcare system in Bulgaria.

6. EQUAL WOMEN IS EFFICIENT Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci – Learning partnership Project Number: 2013-1-ES1-LEO04-72258 The project is funded by the state budget and all of the required personnel and expertise conducting the training Is also provided The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Employment Agency will provide the necessary funds for the project therefore the companies will get their employees trained for free. The project is financed from the state budget, in line with the National Action Plan for employment during that year (the necessary financial resources for measures and programs). The project has been renewed in 2015 within the Operative Programme “Human Resources” ADVANTAGES FOR THE COMPANIES/PROVIDERS

7. EQUAL WOMEN IS EFFICIENT Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci – Learning partnership Project Number: 2013-1-ES1-LEO04-72258 Project “Back to Work” Programme “Back to Work” – 2015 www.az.government.bg www.mlsp.government.bg REFERENCES

8. EQUAL WOMEN IS EFFICIENT Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci – Learning partnership Project Number: 2013-1-ES1-LEO04-72258 THANK YOU! Budapest 25th – 28th February 2015