Tomas: Almost 3,000 People Chose Work over Benefits in Eight Months

Hencovce, 30 April (TASR) - Almost 3,000 people landed a job during the eight months of the 'Work Instead of Benefits' project whereas some 1,000 people saw their material-need benefit withdrawn or reduced after they refused to start work or turned down a suitable job offer, stated Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) during a visit to the Linora company in the village of Hencovce in the Vranov nad Toplou district (Presov region) on Thursday. In addition, there are some 1,300 cases of administrative proceedings involving those who say they cannot work, with authorities currently examining their situations. Tomas also pointed out that 18,000 job seekers were rejected by employers themselves, primarily due to a lack of working habits. As of 1 April, the ministry introduced new tools to support employment of such individuals, including the 'Work Trial' programme which allows a candidate to work for three months at a specific company while still being registered as unemployed. Under this scheme, employers receive an amount equal to the subsistence minimum from the state, while work equipment costs are partly reimbursed as well. The second tool involves mentored onboarding, with the state covering up to 80 percent of the employee's total labour costs, but only up to €1,076, while also paying for the wage of a mentor who assists the new employee during the first months on the job. Tomas introduced the measures during a visit to the clothing maker Linora which effectively utilises active labour market measures while employing more than 300 workers during the peak season, with over 50 percent of them being Roma. The company has operated in the region since 2009, focusing on the production of women's tights, with approximately 27 million pairs produced last year, primarily for export. Government Proxy for Roma Communities Alexander Dasko also highlighted the company as a positive example. "We cannot do it with a snap of the fingers, that is, employing 30,000 or 40,000 Roma from one week to the next. We'll be bringing the Roma community into employment gradually and, as the minister said, the best way to combat poverty is having a job with a steady income," said Dasko. jrg