235 million euros for enterprises hiring women and youth

The Italian government has decided to set aside 235 million euros in funds to boost employment opportunities for youth and women, Italian Labor Minister Elsa Fornero said Friday at a national volunteers' conference in the central Italian city of L'Aquila. Financial incentives will be offered until March 2013 to industries offering places for women and young job seekers, both for long- and short-term contracts. "It is important to hire right now," Fornero said. The funds will be available starting next Monday and will be managed by the pension agency INPS. "This is a small but intense effort that I hope will help Italian families in need," said Fornero.