Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on November 28 said the public employment programme for the country’s socially vulnerable individuals had given jobs to about 30,000 people since March.
Speaking about the programme – launched on his initiative last year – at the weekly government meeting, the PM said the country’s Health Ministry registry still included at least 200,000 socially vulnerable people who were able to work, adding “our desire is to employ all of them”.
Claiming that ensuring jobs to the segment was an “European experience”, the top official said his government aimed to ensure a “gradual transition” of the individuals from public jobs to business due to a lack of workforce in the latter.
“More than 100,000 jobs have been created in the country, and the potential is even higher. However, the business sector is complaining about the lack of manpower. I have personally spoken with business representatives, I had a meeting with them a few weeks ago, and they all unanimously say that it is necessary to increase the workforce”, Garibashvili said, adding “we have plans to communicate with the business sector in an active manner to find solutions”.
The state programme – announced by Garibashvili late last year and launched in February – currently includes jobs in cleaning public infrastructure and facilities, construction, prevention of spread of harmful insects and more.
In his earlier comments the PM explained the initiative would provide socially vulnerable citizens fit for work with jobs instead of the current social assistance, pointing out that over 200,000 out of 600,000 citizens in the socially vulnerable category were able to work but “do not participate in the economy and are demotivated to be employed legally”.
In comments on socially vulnerable children, the head of the government said starting from July 1, 2023 monthly budget aid for the individuals would reach GEL 200 ($73), up from GEL 50 ($18) two years ago. He also added GEL 65 million ($24 million) would be spent to help socially vulnerable children across the country. (Agenda/Business World Magazine)