Labour Minister: European Social Fund Aids One in Five Bulgarians over Seven Years

Sofia Gospodinova, Kaloyan Kirilov

Caretaker Minister of Labor and Social Policy Ivaylo Ivanov at the Hilton Hotel in Sofia, September 18, 2024 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)

Sofia,

18.09.2024 12:04

(BTA)

One in five Bulgarians has received support from the European Social Fund (ESF) over the past seven years, caretaker Minister of Labour and Social Policy Ivaylo Ivanov said here on Wednesday at the opening of the Europe Is with Me forum, organised by the managing authority of the Human Resources Development Programme (HRDP).

The conference New Technologies – A Look Towards the Future aims to present the impact of digital transformation on the priorities of HRDP in the areas of the labour market, social inclusion, and youth employment.

Ivanov said that the Human Resources Development Programme has helped over 100,000 people receive training and improve their skills. Nearly 90,000 Bulgarians have found new jobs, and 115,000 young people have gained their first work experience through the Youth Employment measure.

ESF has provided support to children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. "With European funding, we successfully implemented the reform in childcare, and based on this experience, we are reforming services for the elderly and people with disabilities," Ivanov said.

He mentioned that the expertise of the HRDP professionals has once again produced outstanding results. At the end of September, HRDP will submit a request to close the 2014-2020 programming period without any loss of funds. "The successes are big, but some challenges still keep us alert," Ivanov said.

He noted that next year, efforts will focus on reducing the number of people living at risk and encouraging every Bulgarian citizen to improve their skills and feel more prepared for their future professional development. "We are working to provide high quality and accessible services for children and vulnerable adults," Ivanov said.

In response to rapidly developing technologies, attention is turning to artificial intelligence. "Digital transformation is a fact, which has long surpassed the labour market," Ivanov said. He added that it has a strong impact on every sphere of life, and everyone relies on new technologies daily for work, entertainment, and communication.

/DD/