EC calls for labour market reform

SLOVAKIA should implement structural reforms in order to reduce unemployment, the European commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion, László Andor, said after a ministerial conference to examine the impacts of the global economic crisis on employment and the recovery of the labour market. The gathering took place in Bratislava on March 22.

SLOVAKIA should implement structural reforms in order to reduce unemployment, the European commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion, László Andor, said after a ministerial conference to examine the impacts of the global economic crisis on employment and the recovery of the labour market. The gathering took place in Bratislava on March 22.

Slovakia should provide more job opportunities for people excluded from the labour market, many of whom are young people, Andor said, as reported by the SITA newswire. He also advised dealing with vocational training and doing more to improve the position of Roma citizens.

Andor said the opening of the German and Austrian labour markets on May 1, 2011, would be a great opportunity for the people of the Visegrad Group of countries.

Slovak Labour Minister Jozef Mihál pointed out that Slovakia had been severely hit by the global economic crisis, which resulted in unemployment almost doubling. According to him, this may have been the worst growth in unemployment in any EU country during the downturn, SITA wrote.

Mihál said that in order to support employment, the cabinet is preparing changes to the Labour Code and introduction of a so-called interim labour market, which would allow concurrent receipt of social benefits and work income.

Sándor Czomba, Hungary’s deputy minister for employment policy, underlined the issue of regional differences. According to him, the unemployment rate in Hungarian regions ranges from 3.6 to 20 percent. He said unemployment among older people and those who have just finished their education is a most significant problem.


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