The Slovenia Times

Minister Unveils Unemployment-Fighting Measures

Nekategorizirano


In the first half of 2012, an average of 110,562 people were registered with the Employment Service, which is 1.3% less year-on-year, and registered unemployment stood at 105,630 in June, 1.1% less than in May.

However, the minister noted that the results were both "bright and grim", since employers registered only 86,071 job openings in the first half of the year, which is 12.5% less than in the same period last year.

In June, 12,996 job openings were registered, which is 8.8% less than the month before and as much as 32.8% less year-on-year.

Vizjak hopes the partly season-related fall in unemployment will not be followed by too large an increase in the second half of the year and that the ministry's measures will yield fruit so that the unemployment figure could be at least level to that of the start of the year.

The minister is not excessively optimistic due to the grim outlook for new employment. The Slovenian economy responds quickly to the sentiment in the region and the EU, he said, adding that forecasts show stagnation for Europe.

In December 2011, registered unemployment in Slovenia stood at around 113,000 and it grew to almost 116,000 in January 2012.

Among the measures, co-funded from the European Social Fund, the minister highlighted a training programme for the unemployed, which is to provide EUR 10m this year and the next for the training of 5,540 people.

From May 2009 to November 2015, the programme carries a total of EUR 26.5m for training 45,000 people.

He further underlined a programme of subsidies for groups who are unlikely to get a job on their own. The programme is to include 2,750 people this year and 3,500 next year, and weighs EUR 6m in 2012, EUR 15m in 2013 and EUR 4m in 2014.

The ministry will also give out EUR 13.9m in subsidies for self-employment this year, EUR 11.2m next year and EUR 9m in 2014.

A new programme for helping unemployed under 30 get a job will give employers subsidies of up to EUR 7,250 for taking on a young person for at least 15 months - up to EUR 2,250 for the three-month probation period and up to EUR 5,000 for the following year.

For the inclusion of 1,240 people in the programme, a total of EUR 650,000 is earmarked this year, EUR 7.1m next year and EUR 1.2m for 2014.

In the second half of July, the ministry expects to make a total of EUR 2m available in subsidies for employing 445 people on welfare in 2012 and 2013.

A EUR 5m call for tenders for staff development centres is also to be published at the end of July for boosting additional training and education of employees.

Some EUR 3,300 people are to get a job through public works this year, for which EUR 23.7m is earmarked.

The ministry will also continue supporting scholarships and the development of social entrepreneurship.
 

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