New employment policy measures planned
"We are really trying. This year EUR 100m is earmarked for active employment policy, of which EUR 59m comes from the European Social Fund," she said.
The new programmes include incentives for full-time employment of over 12 months, paid internships in social security providers, on-the-job training, and new advisory services for the unemployed.
Several programmes for informal education and training of vulnerable groups are also planned.
These programmes will be coupled with additional measures, most notably a legislative package dubbed For Decent Work that is designed to address the rampant use of precarious forms of employment.
"We believe labour market issues cannot be addressed with flexibility alone, we have to find the right balance between security and flexibility," she said.
The government is expected to adopt the legislative package in September.