The program is designed to facilitate the social and professional integration of refugees and third-country nationals into the Greek labor market by providing practical experience under authentic working conditions. The internship consists of on-the-job training totaling 270 hours of continuous engagement and is implemented across four key economic sectors: agriculture, construction/technical trades, tourism, and women-focused initiatives. This approach addresses labor shortages in critical sectors while simultaneously creating opportunities for vulnerable populations.
Participation is strictly prohibited for employers involved in violations of international sanctions or human rights; production or trade of weapons, tobacco, or pornographic materials; systematic non-compliance with United Nations principles; or activities subject to exclusion under Article 73 of Law 4412/2016. These measures ensure the program operates exclusively within socially responsible and ethically sound frameworks.
The selection of employers and beneficiaries is conducted in four stages. Initially, the Implementing Body, in coordination with the Ministry, issues a multilingual call disseminated to reception centers and social support structures, including Greek, English, French, Arabic, Farsi, and Ukrainian. Refugees specify their preferred sector, any relevant experience, and provide bank account details. Employers submit information regarding available internship positions, the number of beneficiaries they can accommodate, any housing support offered, and declarations of compliance with program criteria.
Applications are assessed objectively without discrimination based on gender, nationality, or other factors. Employers are screened solely against exclusion criteria. Priority is given to employers offering accommodation or transportation and to beneficiaries with relevant experience. Where these conditions are unmet, social vulnerability criteria such as international protection status or single-parent households are considered. Matching may be repeated once in case of refusal.
The internship is governed by a formal agreement between the beneficiary, employer, and implementing body. While not constituting an employment contract, the agreement clearly defines the role, duration, working hours (6–8 hours per day, 5 days per week), compensation, health and safety obligations, and the appointment of a workplace trainer by the employer. Internships are prohibited during night shifts, Sundays, and official holidays. Beneficiaries must present valid medical certificates issued free of charge by public health services. Concurrent participation in multiple internships is not allowed.
Employers must register internship start and end dates in the official “ERGANI” system and ensure strict adherence to health and safety standards. The Implementing Body will conduct periodic inspections to verify compliance.
Interns are insured through e-EFKA solely for accident coverage, with contributions paid by the employer and compensation managed by the Implementing Body. Upon completing 270 hours, beneficiaries receive a lump-sum payment equivalent to the statutory minimum daily wage (€39.30) for each internship day. Payments are made within 30 days via direct deposit to the beneficiary’s registered bank account. Instances of fraudulent or fictitious internships result in immediate exclusion of both the employer and beneficiary from the program.
Beneficiaries may fulfill the 270-hour requirement through consecutive internships with multiple employers, provided all operate within the same sector. Hours worked are cumulative.
To prevent program misuse, the following caps apply: in agriculture, a maximum of 10 interns per employer with grants capped at €20,000; in other sectors, the maximum number of interns per employer is limited to 17% of permanent staff per branch, up to a ceiling of 40 interns. Tourism sector placements are also subject to quotas under Law 4554/2018. Grants per enterprise may not exceed €300,000. Employers must maintain their permanent workforce during the internship period. In cases of dismissal, the employer is required to replace the terminated employee within 10 days to maintain staff stability, with interns excluded from permanent staff counts.
