LMP: Government fostered work schemes waste of money

Budapest, December 7 (MTI) – The government’s hastily expanded fostered work schemes only manage to conserve poverty; targeted programmes are needed instead, which help return people to the labour market, Ferenc Gertsmar, jobs spokesman for the opposition LMP party, said.

The government only uses fostered work to doctor statistics, Gertsmar told public news channel M1 on Monday morning. This year there were 232,000 people employed in fostered work schemes between August and October, according to data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH), he said. Spending on fostered work rose from 64 billion forints (EUR 204.5m) in 2011 to 270 billion in 2015 and 340 billion forints are targeted next year. Adding this up, the government will be spending 1,2 billion forints for running fostered work programmes in five years. These funds could be used better, Gertsmar insisted, noting that surveys show only 10 percent of fostered workers find full-time employment.

The take-home monthly pay of fostered workers is currently 52,000 forints (EUR 166) while the poverty line is 70,000 forints, Gertsmar added.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters