This mutual learning webinar explored how Public Employment Services (PES) can assist the recovery of SMEs and the self-employed from the COVID-19 crisis by implementing various targeted support services.

The webinar’s 158 participants heard three PES presentations on measures they took during the first COVID-19 wave to support SMEs and the self-employed, including:

• Tailored financial support for small businesses in crisis and extra training initiatives for their employees (IEFP, Portugal);
• The ‘First Aid’ financial support programme for employers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis (Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, Slovakia);
• Measures to support the self-employed in changing career after the COVID crisis (UZT, Lithuania).

The event also heard directly from a self-employed person who had benefited from the PES programme in Lithuania and from an SME employer from Reunion Island (France) who spoke about the benefits of recruiting through PES.

This was a novel approach for PES webinars, as the audience had the unique opportunity to hear not only PES experiences but also those of their customers.

Practical information

A full recording of the webinar is available online.

For more information, see the webinar agenda.

For any further questions, please contact pesnetwork@fondazionebrodolini.eu.