Over 2.13 billion levs are the funds set in the final draft of the Operational Programme „Human Resources Development 2014-2020,“ which was approved by the Council of Ministers. The formal negotiations with the European Commission are pending, which should give a positive evaluation at the latest by the end of November. According to caretaker Social Minister Jordan Hristoskov out of all Ops the „Human Resources Development“ is the one with the highest degree of readiness to begin early in the new programming period, as document formal has taken into consideration the remarks made to the programme by EU experts.
Over the next six years the resource program is focused on the fight against unemployment among the most vulnerable groups in the labour market. These are young people up to 21 years, and lower educated and qualified people, as well as those working at an age shortly before retirement. Priority measures have been planned to improve the skills of employees according to the requirements of the business. The programme will invest in the modernization of public policies in the areas of labour market, social welfare and health care. According to Hristoskov the most important task is to improve the levels of employment and job quality. Parallel to this will be the effort to reduce unemployment and discrimination in working conditions, which set aside about 60% of the budget. Another major focus is the social inclusion of the most vulnerable groups of society. Target funds to support young people come to 258 million levs and 108 million levs come from the European Union initiative for youth employment, and the remaining 150 million levs – from the European Social Fund.
„The whole population of Bulgaria will reap the benefits of the programme and this will help us increase employment. We want to reduce the number of people living at risk of poverty, by about 240,000 people,“ summed up Minister Hristoskov.
Caretaker Government is ready with a series of measures after the contracts of 17,000 seasonal workers have expired. Government will allocate 5 million levs under the „Security“ programme. Those employed in it will work until the end of February 2015 and these are five thousand people who assist the police in remote locations. Some 30 million levs will finance jobs for young people, long term unemployed and people with disabilities, mainly in small private enterprises. About 7.5 million levs are designed for 11,000 assistants to people with disabilities and the elderly. In the „Career Start“ programme 1,500 youths will undergo internships in ministries and institutions. Five million levs from the state budget have been provided for apprenticeship of 8,000 people.
The BANKER
