The first Infoday of the PR.O.GR.E.S.S. project – Promoting Opportunities, Growth and Education for Social Success – was held at the Civic Museum of Bari. The project is funded by the Interreg VI-A Greece–Italy 2021–2027 Programme and organized by LB Mestieri Puglia.
The event presented the first results of a comparative research study on the employment inclusion systems for people with disabilities in Italy and Greece, with a focus on Puglia, Calabria, and Achaia. Findings show that labor market exclusion mainly depends on structural factors such as governance, services, labor market conditions, and territorial disparities. Greece shows high exit rates from employment, while Italy has a more structured system but often fragile outcomes.
Speakers included project partners, the Joint Secretariat, ARPAL Puglia, the Regional Disability Ombudsperson, and a social cooperative presenting a best practice case. The project will continue with cross-border inclusion models and cooperation among services, third sector, and companies.
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