site.btaLabour Minister: Better Lifelong Learning Options Prioritized

Improving the lifelong learning opportunities, the development of social dialogue and reducing the share of people who live in poverty is a constant priority of the Labour and Social Policy Ministry, said here on Tuesday caretaker Minister Lazar Lazarov during a news conference. He discussed OP Human Resources Development 2021-2027 together with his deputy Natalia Efremova and Jeroen Jutte, head of the Bulgaria, Romania Unit at the European Commission's DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. 

The topmost priority is to encourage employment and skills development, Lazarov said, explaining that 42% of the Operational Programme's funds are aimed at this. The goal is to reach over 170,000 workers and unemployed persons, who can be trained to acquire new skills and to prepare over 130,000 people for the digital transition of the economy, to create new jobs and support entrepreneurs. 

The second priority is social inclusion and equal opportunities, which has a budget of 37% of the Programme's funds. It targets 220,000 people, Lazarov said. Encouraging youth employment is also a special priority, which gets almost 19% of the Programme's funds and will reach 115,000 young people, the Labour and Social Policy Minister explained.