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Prešov – The Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic will launch a new program to support employment called “Right to First Employment 2”. For employers, this will mean reimbursement of 80% of the total labor costs, up to a maximum of 1010 euros. This was stated by the Minister of Labor, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic Erik Tomáš at a briefing of the Hlas-SD party in Prešov, TASR reports.
According to the minister, this is a continuation of the successful pilot project Right to First Employment launched last year, which created 1830 jobs mainly for young people.
“This time, the project will not be funded from state resources, but from EU funds – no limits on the amount of money, no limits on jobs,” said Tomáš. The condition that a person must be registered as unemployed for at least one month will again be maintained, and for university graduates, it will be three months. “And if such a person also meets the second condition, that they have not worked continuously in Slovakia for more than six months, they can be employed through this project,” he stated. Additionally, there will be reimbursement for a so-called mentor for three months, who will train the new employee in the given position.
“Thus, for nine months, we will reimburse 80% of the total labor costs and we expect a six-month sustainability,” Tomáš stated.
As part of the project, there will also be assistance in finding work specifically for young people under the age of 30. “For them, we will again reimburse 80% of the total labor costs for the first six months and we will require a four-month sustainability. As for the mentor’s contribution, it will last for two months,” the minister stated.
Member of the European Parliament Branislav Ondruš (Hlas-SD) informed at the briefing that he supports the call of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) to maintain the European directive on minimum wages. The fate of this directive, after being challenged by Sweden and Denmark, is expected to be decided soon by the Court of Justice of the European Union.
“I respect the right of member states to this type of lawsuit, but I expect the court to carefully consider the extensive legal arguments presented not only by legislators of European institutions,” Ondruš stated. According to him, the Hlas-SD party fully adheres to the principles and goals of the directive and will advocate for them in Slovakia regardless of the final decision of the European court. (May 1)