The First Call of the Scheme will provide subsidies directly for 7,773 jobs. In addition as part of the application process to the Scheme a further 36,260 jobs have been committed. This means that a total of over 43,000 jobs will be retained as a result of the First Call of the Employment Subsidy Scheme.
It is now clear that the initial criteria of the Employment Subsidy Scheme were a key factor for the low take-up under the Scheme's First Call. That is why I have decided to have a second broader call, which will be open to both exporting and non-exporting enterprises from all sectors of the economy.