Pollak: Government Again Opts for Cuts in Benefits over Sustainable Solutions

Bratislava, 30 April (TASR) - Vice-Chair of the House Human Rights Committee and MP Peter Pollak Jr. ('Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus) has criticised Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) and Government Proxy for Roma Communities Alexander Dasko for their statements announcing the withdrawal of child benefits. "Minister Erik Tomas is continuing the long-term strategy pursued by [Prime Minister and Smer-SD party leader] Robert Fico's governments, which revolves around withdrawing welfare benefits from the Roma. We saw this in their communication or in the legislation during the previous Fico's governments as well," said Pollak. According to him, it's clear that this long-term strategy is based on inciting hatred for political gains. "We're watching a systemic campaign where Minister Erik Tomas opens the benefits withdrawal issue week after week to create the impression that he's tidying things up. In fact, this is only aimed at gaining political points to the detriment of the poorest," stated Pollak. He added that the government proposal concerning the withdrawal of child benefits or the law dubbed as "Work Instead of Benefits", which has been pushed through, do not provide a sufficient response to the root causes of generational poverty. "Punishing children for system failures is not a solution. By taking away benefits from families, you're not sending children to school – you are only pushing them even deeper into poverty from which they may never escape. This is not a social policy," stressed Pollak, calling on the government to stop punishing the poor and start adopting measures that will actually improve the situation. During a visit to the Linora company in the village of Hencovce in the Vranov nad Toplou district (Presov region) on Thursday, Tomas stated that almost 3,000 people landed a job during the eight months of the 'Work Instead of Benefits' project, while some 1,000 people saw their material-need benefit withdrawn or reduced after they refused to start work or turned down a suitable job offer. jrg