Bulgaria's New Labor Minister Mulls Welfare Reform

Bulgaria's Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Hassan Ademov, photo by BGNES

The Social Assistance program should be entirely reformed, so that it does not generate permanent unemployement, Bulgaria's Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Hassan Ademov said.

The idea is social assistance to be received for literacy and qualifications, not for temporary unemployment, as it stands now, the Minister explained in an interview for the Bulgarian National Television, BNT.

"Money should reach those, who really need it, not generate permanently unemployed people, who in most cases are illiterate or low educated, lack qualification and work habits and thus cannot integrate into the job market," the Minister said.

According to him, education is the only way for people on welfare to stop surviving on social assistance.

Ademov further stated the unemployment issue was not an obligation exclusive to the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, as the Ministry of Economy and Energy should also work toward its resolution.

The Minister presses for an urgent review of labor legislation, as there are some impediments for the small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, to expand their activities. The laws have to guarantee flexible hours and part-time work and create easier procedures for employment and self-employment.

"If the State stops hurdling and pressuring the business, it can cope on its own," Hasan Ademov thinks.

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