The ministry said that based on the 2,000 contracts already signed, more than 8,000 students could start working right away. Around four-fifths of submitted funding applications have come from municipalities.

In the last week of June, interest in the program picked up, with around 2,000 students applying daily, the ministry noted. Under the scheme, local councils are eligible for subsidies covering 100% of student payroll costs for two months, although work hours are limited to six a day.

Businesses in the farm, tourism, and catering sectors are eligible for subsidies covering 75% of payroll for students, who can work up to eight hours a day. Students can earn a gross monthly HUF 195,000 for skilled jobs and HUF 150,000 for unskilled work.

The government has earmarked HUF 2 billion for the scheme this year. The summer jobs scheme has supported the placement of more than 242,000 students in temporary positions with subsidies of over HUF 24 bln since its launch in 2013.