site.btaCaretaker Labour Minister Lazarov Confers with World Bank Resident Representative for Bulgaria, Czechia and Slovakia Melgaard

Caretaker Labour Minister Lazar Lazarov met with World Bank Representative for Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia Lasse Melgaard. The two gave high marks to the cooperation between the two institutions for the development of policies for promotion of employment and social inclusion, Lazarov's Ministry said in a press release Thursday. The sides focused on the possibilities for advancing cooperation in search of innovative approaches to attract the economically inactive to the labour market.

Participating in the meeting were deputy ministers Nataliya Efremova, Nadya Klissourska and Emil Mingov, and experts from the Labour Ministry

As an example for the excellent cooperation between the Labour Ministry and the World Bank, Minister Lazarov outlined a project for social inclusion under which centres for early child development were established in 66 Bulgarian municipalities, which provide integrated social, health and educational services. Lasse Melgaard expressed readiness on behalf of the World Bank to continue to support the development of the national policies. 

Lazarov presented the reforms undertaken by Bulgaria in the area of the labour market, social services and social assistance. "Currently, unemployment is low despite the global and European crises. Seventy-five per cent of people aged 20-64 are employed, which is near the target that has been set," said Lazarov.

As challenges to the labour market he outlined the insufficient share of youths included in employment, education and training. "Because of this promotion of youth employment has been prioritized in the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development 2021-2027. Some BGN 735 million will go towards activities to facilitate the transition from education to employment, the inclusion of jobless youths in internships and vocational training, as well as improvement of their skills, competences and qualification," said Minister Lazarov.