PS: Single Parent Support Scheme Out of Touch with Reality

Bratislava, 7 April (TASR) - The support scheme for single-parent families launched in early February by Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) is failing to respond to the real needs of working single parents and has proven ineffective, according to opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party MP Veronika Srobova. "I've been receiving feedback from single parents across Slovakia who have pointed out that the financial allowance is paid on the condition that they participate in time-consuming meetings that they're required to attend regularly during standard working hours. For many of them this means using their annual leave, losing income or risking trouble at work," stated Srobova, adding that the scheme is completely out of touch with the daily reality of single parents. Instead of reducing the burden, they face stress, paperwork and further complications. "While the ministry has found a way to use European Union funds, there are roughly 190,000 single-parent households in Slovakia, so support set up in this way will only affect a tiny percentage of them," she said. According to her, single parents primarily need systemic and accessible solutions. To that end, PS suggests introducing a housing allowance along with a clear legal definition of a 'single-parent household', while also planning to address the cost-of-living crisis by massive housing construction. The Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry has responded. "Opposition politicians are once again criticising specific aid without offering a real solution that would help people," it said. According to the ministry, the 'Support for Lone Parents' project has garnered great interest, with more than 5,000 single parents having already joined the scheme. It was prepared in cooperation with associations active in this area as a systemic solution combining financial assistance with consultancy, stated the ministry. jrg/df