“The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP) is launching the project “I'm Starting a Job“ – Component 3 “Employment“, aimed at providing employment for unemployed and inactive people. It is expected that over 14,000 people will start work through it, and 10,000 of them will be provided with the opportunity for permanent employment“. This was stated by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov, who participated in the National Conference of the Employment Agency in Plovdiv.
Minister Gutsanov emphasized that in this way, people who for one reason or another are not part of the labor market are given a real chance to return to it and improve their qualifications. “This is part of our long-term efforts to ensure decent incomes and reduce unemployment,“ he said.
The project is financed under the “Human Resources Development“ Program and is aimed at people who are currently unemployed - young people without work habits and long-term unemployed who have lost the opportunity to actively participate in the labor process. “We cannot afford to have hundreds of thousands of Bulgarians remain outside of public and economic life. With this project, we are giving them the opportunity for a new start,“ Minister Gutsanov emphasized.
For employers who will hire employees under the program, incentives are provided to retain workers after the end of subsidized employment. Special attention is also paid to people in disadvantaged situations and people with permanent disabilities, for whom subsidized employment will be provided for up to two years.
In his speech, Minister Gutsanov also emphasized improving the relationship between education and the labor market, so as to provide qualified personnel in sectors experiencing a labor shortage. He added that work will be done to minimize the difference in pay for employees in agencies under the MLSP.
Regarding Budget 2025, Minister Gutsanov was categorical that no compromises will be made in the social sphere. “There will be no tax increases, and people will not be deprived of the social services they have received so far. There are no risks for the payment of pensions and salaries in the amount voted in the National Assembly. All social payments will be guaranteed“, he emphasized.
During his working visit to Plovdiv, Minister Gutsanov also met with the Mayor of Rhodope Municipality Pavel Mihaylov. The two discussed the possibilities for joint initiatives in the social sphere. The Minister emphasized policies for young people. They agreed with the mayor that a way should be sought for their better realization on the labor market. Pavel Mihaylov introduced Gutsanov to the social initiatives of the municipality.