Prishtina, November 15, 2024
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo today launched the employment support measure for employable members as part of the piloting of the social assistance reform.
Attending this meeting were the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Hekuran Murati, the Director of the World Bank Office for Kosovo and North Macedonia, Massimiliano Paolucci, and the Director of the Department for Professional Training at the Employment Agency of the Republic of Kosovo, Jehona Rexha.
During his address, Prime Minister Kurti highlighted the ongoing reform, saying, “if we consider the past, where citizens were excluded from the social assistance scheme due to discriminatory criteria even when they had been employed for just one month, our reform not only backs employment for six months but also promotes the continuity of employment beyond an additional six-month period”.
He continued his speech by emphasizing that the success of similar initiatives in the past is an indicator that speaks to the necessity and impact of the scheme we are launching today.
“In 2022, we launched the ‘Government for Families’ scheme, which continues to be implemented to this day, enabling 4,100 families, who previously had no employed members, to now have at least one employed member,” stated the Prime Minister.
Minister Murati, on the other hand, shared further insights regarding the measure, mentioning that with the elimination of discriminatory criteria, support is now being extended for the integration of job-ready individuals into the workforce.
We are starting support for these families with the wage subsidy measure where we subsidize employers 70% of the gross salary of the worker employed through this measure, for 6 consecutive months, up to a maximum of 350 euros per month. Furthermore, for employers who engage the same worker for an additional six months, at the end of the second six-month period of engagement, they may receive a one-time amount equivalent to 20% of the worker’s average wages during the second six months,” announced Minister Murati.
Mr. Massimiliano Paolucci, the Director of the World Bank Office for Kosovo and North Macedonia, praised the Government of Kosovo for the measures undertaken to reform the social assistance scheme in Kosovo and conveyed the World Bank’s willingness to continue supporting the Government in this process. He added that improving the quality of life for the citizens of Kosovo is a fundamental priority for the World Bank and a guiding principle in our partnership with the Government of Kosovo.
Jehona Rexha, Director of the Department for Professional Training at the Employment Agency of the Republic of Kosovo, stated that the initiation of the Social Assistance Reform Program, besides its importance in the dimension of social policies, welfare, and substantive and substantial addressing, this scheme in both form and content shows that the focus, with much attention and dedication, is on the beneficiaries, by redesigning the steps and criteria for the benefiting individuals and families, removing discriminatory criteria and reducing the possibility of scheme misuse.
Aside from businesses, this employment measure can also benefit non-governmental organizations. Eligible members who register at the employment offices will gain access to specialized counseling, where their abilities are evaluated, and personalized employment plans are developed. For individuals requiring skill development, training and skill enhancement programs are provided, and for those prepared to join the labor market, incentives similar to those I just mentioned are offered to facilitate their employment.
This meeting was attended by 42 newly appointed employment counselors, who will be working in various municipalities of Kosovo to assist in the labor market integration for families on social welfare.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech:
Thank you, honorable Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Mr. Hekuran Murati,
Honorable Director of the Department for Professional Skills in the Employment Agency of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Jehona Rexha,
Honorable Director of the World Bank Office for Kosovo and North Macedonia, Mr. Massimiliano Paolucci,
Honorable Director in the Department of Social Schemes, Mr. Mentor Morina,
Honorable employment advisors,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Respected media,
At the launch of the social assistance reform project, we promised a program that aims for equality and promotes employment. Our commitment to reform, targeting social equality, has been achieved by eliminating discriminatory criteria and implementing new poverty assessments. As a result, at the beginning of this month, 1,824 families in need received financial support, thus becoming part of the first group of beneficiaries.
We are fulfilling the second promise, that of promoting employment, by not automatically removing those who are employed from the scheme, but by encouraging and supporting their integration into the labor market. So, if in the past, families on social assistance viewed employment as a threat to their removal from the social assistance scheme, today they should see it as an opportunity to secure the necessary income to no longer need the scheme.
Today, we are presenting to you the scheme “Employment Support for Families on Social Assistance”, which is implemented in two phases. The first phase includes subsidizing 70% of the worker’s salary for six consecutive months, where this is not all. As additional support, if the employment continues for another six months, the employer will also receive a one-time payment.
Reflecting on the past, where discriminatory criteria led to citizens being removed from the social assistance program even if their employment, say, lasted just a month, our reform not only supports employment for six months but also promotes the sustainability of employment even after an additional six-month period.
Moreover, members eligible for work who enroll at employment offices will gain specialized counseling, where their skills are evaluated and individual employment plans are developed. For individuals requiring skill development, training and skill enhancement programs are provided, and for those prepared to join the labor market, incentives similar to those I just mentioned are offered to facilitate their employment.
The success of similar initiatives in the past is an indicator that speaks to the necessity and impact of the scheme we are launching today. As a Government, in 2022 we launched the “Government for Families” scheme, which continues to be implemented to this day, enabling 4,100 families, who previously had no employed members, to now have at least one employed member.
The Government’s commitment to families is demonstrated through continuous efforts, evidenced by child benefits, maternity allowances, energy subsidies, pension increases, and salary raises. The Government’s dedication to every family, without distinction, is further proven by schemes like today’s, which extend support to families that previously couldn’t feel the state’s helping hand.
At this point, I will pass the floor back to the Minister of Finance, Labor, and Transfers, Mr. Hekuran Murati, so he can explain and offer more details about this highly significant scheme for our society today.
Last modified: November 19, 2024