site.bta72,000 Register with Job Centres since Start of State of Emergency, More than 11,000 Find Work

April 10 (BTA) - The newly registered jobless people in job centres since the start of the state of emergency nearly a month ago number 72,000 people but 11,033 have found work, Labour and Social Policy Minister Denitsa Sacheva told a briefing on Friday. With 4,670 people on Thursday, April 9 was the second day when registered jobless were less than the previous day.

Also as at Thursday, there were 1,553 applications under the 60/40 retention programme, covering 22,015 employees.

Sacheva said that the unemployment figures are a cause of concern but on the other hand, in the span of a week since the 60-40 programme went into operation, 22,015 workers will not lose their jobs. In Sacheva's words, at this stage the results of the programme are good.

Sacheva said that a meeting of the council for tripartite cooperation is expected to be convened on Monday to discuss proposals from trade unions about new social measures concerning unemployment benefits and food vouchers. RI/ZH

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