Social Ministry to soften the effect of the crisis

published on 11/11/09 12:07 PM

Photo: BGNES

Bulgaria continues to experience the negative effects of the global financial and economic crisis. Economists, sociologists and syndicate workers predict a hard winter and increase of unemployment, which will be accompanied with a decrease of income because of the shrunk budget for 2010. The Social Ministry was categorical that at this stage pensions and salaries cannot be increased and that the aim at the moment is to soften the social effect of the crisis. The goal is to avoid a harsh increase of unemployment and to help the most vulnerable groups of the population. According to data from the Employment Agency the level of unemployment in Bulgaria in October was 8.23 per cent, or around 300 000 people. This is below the average figure in the EU. At the same time however unemployment in some regions of Bulgaria is around or above 15 per cent. The crisis is felt mostly in sectors like construction works, metallurgy, the textile industry… One of the measures of the Social Ministry for softening the social effect of the economic crisis is engagement in the “Human resources development” operational programme for education, qualification and providing work for the unemployed up till 2013.

“Twenty five per cent of those in the age bracket 15 – 24 neither study, nor work at the moment. They do not seek qualification and show no desire to acquire such”, says Minister of labour and social policy Totio Mladenov. “This is an extremely serious problem. One of the accents of the “Human resources development” operational programme is targeted towards these young people so that they further their education and gain qualification. We, in Bulgaria, have to get used to the fact that these are key words on the labour market. Only then will we be competitive and will be able to demand higher income. In order to overcome the now existing misbalance between offering and demand on the labour market the efforts of many institutions are necessary, including those of the Ministry of Education. The lack of coordination between the professional education and the demands of the business circles should be overcome. Here the active role of the business is extremely important. That is why people from the real business circles should be present in the estimating teams when the qualities of the young people after a given course are put on the balance. It is unacceptable that means from the state budget or from the European funds for qualification are utilized without bringing a real effect of the labour market.”

The anti-crisis measure, giving an opportunity for education and pre-qualification with the help of the “Human resources development” operational programme, will start in the beginning of December. Hopes are that it will cater for thousands of unemployed or with part-time jobs.

English version: Ivaila Bozhanova

По публикацията работи: Diana Hristakieva

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Social Ministry to soften the effect of the crisis

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