Rationale

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The reason for creation of Development Partnership is the unfavourable trend of growing numbers of the unemployed in over-fifty age group. It arises from the National Employment Action Plan, the data made available by ČSÚ (Czech Statistics Bureau), and from the experience of the Applicant, that in view of demographical development of the Czech population, further worsening of the situation can be expected in medium- and long-term horizons. That is why we regard it as important to develop already now innovative solutions that would promote stabilization or – in better case, the reversal of the trend in share held by citizens in the age group of over 50 have in overall number of people unemployed for a long term. We see the main causes of this trend as a combination of these three negative factors: Objective and subjective reasons for reduced employability on the side of potentially or currently unemployed people in category of over 50:
Objective reasons for reduced employability arise from the very structure of this target group. From overall survey of the long-term group of unemployed, it can be deduced that more than 50% of the over-fifty subgroup would be persons with basic education or medium-level education without matriculation. It can be assumed that this part of the target group would be handicapped more pronouncedly as far as the access to re-training programs is concerned in view of their capacities and long-standing habits acquired in a small number of employments. Other objective reasons may be the health problems, and reduced adaptability and flexibility. In our opinion, subjective reasons will play an important role in influencing the current trend. We are convinced, that the attitude of this target group towards re-training or a possible change of employment is rather a negative one, or apprehensive. Their own experiences (influenced also by this attitude, naturally) which they have with possible changing of employment and frequent and repeated rejection only reinforce the feeling of their own inadequacy and redundancy.
Objective and subjective reasons on the side of employers in regard of their interest to employ people who are over fifty:
Besides other, objective reasons on the side of employers include increased costs of keeping the personnel over age of fifty (wages, higher rate of sickness, lower performance, lower flexibility, etc.). Subjective reasons or attitude of many employers can be summarized simply, thus: 'I would rather rear and educate a younger (cheaper) member of the team according to my own liking. It is easier than trying to change an "older" person.'
Current situation in the sphere of state policies and social security:
The present state of social security and the existence of illegal work opportunities do not motivate to any considerable degree this target group to re-integrate in labour market.
It is for these afore-mentioned reasons that we regard creation of DP that would examine and verify the causes of this negative trend and propose innovative measures leading to its stabilization or change, as being very necessary and useful.

Objective

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The fundamental aim of our project is to develop and test the methods, approaches, and specific measures designated for support of keeping a job, finding - and succeeding in another job, or development of entrepreneurship of the target group of people over fifty.
The main principle of this project is active involvement of the target group representatives in solving of actual problems. Besides the effectual impacts, we will regard as a very positive result of our project the situation when the target group is no longer a mere receiver of proposed measures but is prepared for the future, to actively and independently anticipate, propose, test, implement, and evaluate further necessary measures for reducing the discrimination on basis of age on labour market. By this, we intend, at the same time, to fulfil the principles of mainstreaming, sustainable development, and local initiatives. Developing and testing the system of continual acquisition of information about the current development of discrimination on basis of age existing on the labour market. We perceive this objective as being an objective of Thematic Area Nr 1, and regard is as being very important for sustainable development. The target group will adopt the tested methodology and, due to availability of accurate information, will be able to effectively anticipate and solve the issues of discrimination on basis of age at workplace, in process of seeking an employment, and in business enterprise. Developing and testing of procedures aimed at increasing the effectiveness of consultancy focused at the target group. We perceive this objective as being an objective of Thematic Area Nr 1. We see the benefit for the target group in the fact that in the context of existing or newly founded consulting centres (e.g., IPS by unemployment bureaus) or within the framework of other DP, the work procedures of these centres will be enhanced by the procedures and methods essential for working with the target group. One of the proposals for testing will be a three-tier analysis of potential for re-training or business development. The first tier concerns the obtained qualification and experience, the second tier concerns personal and behavioural characteristics, and the third one the target group motives. THE MAIN THEME: Developing and verifying the instruments for business development of the target group. We perceive this objective as belonging to Thematic Area Nr 3. In view of the number of our innovative ideas we have in this area, we regard it as being the main thematic area. Within the framework of this objective, we expect the benefits for the target group in developing and testing of specific solutions for specific sub-groups of the target group as well as for the target group as a whole. The following two alternatives are given as examples of possible innovations:Active involvement of experienced managers threatened by or already suffering from discrimination on basis of age:
We assume, that the target group will include not-a-negligible group of experienced senior executives who are potentially at risk, or who are contemplating a career change, or who are unemployed. Within the framework of business development support, we will propose to representatives of this group the development and testing of re-training to become "educators" and offer them an opportunity to create a network of advisors, within which they would work as self-employed individuals. By this, we pursue the aim of shifting the perception from that of "old" = redundant to that of "very experienced" = "a very rich source of know-how" (for example, as a coach of young managers, an expert advisor, and so on). We see as an indirect business support also the possibility of creating the new employment positions within the framework of firms – "an internal mentor, coach."
For probably a considerably large sub-group of the people with lower education and manual experience and skills, verifying the possibility of establishing the "Houses of Crafts." We see great potential on services market for such artisans' associations with the possibility of conducting their business as self-employed individuals or limited liability companies, since there is still the need for minor household alterations and repairs that are not interesting to larger firms. Moreover, an interesting market potential exists also in the field of leisure-time activities of adults and children, such as tuition in crafts, and even the possibility of making small products under the supervision of experienced expert might prove to be interesting to many persons not sufficiently technically equipped and skilled, etc. For this sub-group, we propose further modification and verification of alterations to existing training for entrepreneurship. Another way of improving the conditions for this target group to conduct business are entrepreneurial "incubators." Initiating the establishment and verifying the independence of functioning of non-governmental and non-profit organizations to support the target group, such as an "Association of Active Seniors." We perceive this objective as an objective of Thematic area Nr 4, and the main benefit should be the sustainability of the development and "institutionalization" of the target group, the possibility of active cooperation with employers, for instance, in field of consulting services in issues of discrimination on basis of age, and possibly in the area of outplacement. Initiating the modification and verifying the effectiveness of educational methods focusing specially at the target group, and verifying the possibility of re-training a part of the target group to become "educators" (mentors, coaches, or advisors). We perceive this objective as belonging to Thematic Area Nr 5, and the main benefit for the target group should be greater digestibility and a better chance to put into practice the acquired knowledge, and in case of re-training to become an "educator" also a new opportunity to succeed on labour market and in business. Proposing and verifying the modification of language tuition in regard of the target group. We perceive this objective as being an objective of Thematic Area Nr 5, and the main benefit for the target group should be the support of ability to compete on labour market and of business competitiveness as well as active reduction of mental and physical impact of aging. Proposing and verifying the modification of computer literacy tuition methods in regard of the target group. We perceive this objective as being an objective of Thematic Area Nr 5, and the main benefit for the target group should be considerable strengthening of competitiveness on labour market, facilitating teleworking and making entrepreneurial activities easier, or even the possibility to conduct the business in a new direction.

Innovation

Budget Action 2

500 000 – 1 000 000 €

Beneficiaries

Empowerment

 With beneficiaries

 Between national partners

N.C.

Transnationality

 Linguistic skills

• čeština
• English
• slovenčina (slovenský jazyk)
• polski

 Percentage of the budget for transnational activities

• 7.0%

 Transnational Co-operation Partnerships

Background

 Involvment in previous EU programmes

• Nobody involved in A&E

National Partners

Agreement Summary

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CONEO, s.r.o.

Contact person(s)

Business Language Centre, s.r.o.

Gemma Systems, s.r.o.

Matematicko fyzikální fakulta UK v Praze

Olomouc Trading Centre spol. s.r.o.

PLIVA - Lachema a.s.

Střední odborná škola, Střední odborné učiliště a Učiliště

Active seniors support