site.bta Bulgaria, Sweden Strengthen Cooperation in Social Policies

Bulgaria, Sweden Strengthen Cooperation in Social Policies

Sofia, February 5 (BTA) - Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivailo Kalfin and Swedish Minister for Children, the Elderly and Gender Equality Asa Regner signed Friday a letter of intent for cooperation in social policies.

Speaking to reporters after the document was signed, Kalfin said that data of the Swedish authorities show that there are about 5,000 beggars in their country, of whom 1,000 from Bulgaria. Kalfin noted the difference between resorting to begging after being left with no possibilities and begging as an organized fraudulent activity. The Minister stressed the importance of police cooperation in this respect.

Kalfin also spoke about people who go for seasonal work in Sweden without obtaining prior information about the working conditions and who then find themselves in a difficult situation. He said that an awareness campaign could be organized providing information what needs to be checked before going for seasonal work abroad and the possible risks.

Regner too spoke about begging for a living and as part of an organized activity, which she said is considered trafficking in humans. The masterminds of such crimes are to be punished but people should not forget that there are also victims that need to be protected, especially children, the Swedish Minister said.

About the migrants, Regner said that Sweden is one of the countries who has accepted the greatest number of refugees, 160,000. The official said that Sweden will take care of the refugees who have the right to remain in the country but the others should return to their homelands.

The letter that was signed envisages active cooperation in five main areas: gender equality, improving the living conditions of vulnerable groups, improving the care for the elderly, the children and people with disabilities. The letter of intent is accompanied by a working programme mapping out concrete steps the two countries will implement in 2016-2017.