site.btaLong-term Unemployed, People with Low Income Are Priority for Social Ministry: Minister Kalfin

Long-term Unemployed, People with Low Income Are Priority for Social Ministry: Minister Kalfin

Sofia, November 16 (BTA) - Reduction of unemployment among young people under 29, long-term unemployed and the people approaching retirement age will be a priority for the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy on the labour market, Social Minister Ivaylo Kalfin told a news conference Monday. He was presenting the policies in the social sphere featured in the 2016 budget.

A profile of each long-term unemployed will be made. The ministry is considering an individual approach to these people, the aim being that they return to work. In KalfinТ's words, half of these people in Bulgaria lack basic knowledge or are totally illiterate.

The funds for the National Employment Action Plan remain the same, 73 million leva. Subsidised employment will be reduced in 2016 and incentives for employers to employ workers for longer periods will be increased, Kalfin said.

In the field of social inclusion efforts will continue to support people with low incomes, disabled, families of children with disabilities and lonely people, the Social Minister said. The main aim is to substitute social support for income for those who can work. People will be guided to the labour market to avoid permanent dependence on social payments.

Kalfin hopes that Parliament will support the raising of minimum wage to 420 leva as of next year. Speaking of the reforms his ministry has already launched, he said the pension reform is already giving results, which is reflected in the budget of the National Social Security Institute, while the changes of the policy in family support reflects on the distribution of the funds for children.

The ministry is also working actively on estimates related to people with disabilities and will table legislative revisions to the system by the end of the year, as well as amendments in the conditions for the functioning of private pension funds.