The County Employment Office (PUP) in Bolesławiec received over 70% less money this year to cover internships, training and business start-up subsidies for the unemployed. In 2010, it had PLN 15.6 million at its disposal. This year, only PLN 2.3 million was transferred from the Labour Fund. The office can still count on approximately PLN 1.3 million. And that is all.
The director of PUP in Bolesławiec is reassuring people and waiting for funds expected to arrive in March and July this year. “The money received so far will be enough to pay for all agreements concluded with the office last year,” says Ewa Hryciów, director of PUP. “There is no reason to panic. Every year, we receive the money in stages. I am waiting for funds from the EU’s ‘New Opportunities Project. Human Capital’ in March and from the Ministry of Finance in July.”
The director reports that many people are still benefiting from subsidized training and internships that began in 2010. Scholarships were awarded to 280 interns. A total of 680 people started training. Some people who are setting up their own businesses are still getting organized. In December 2010, grants of several thousand złoty were paid to 25 unemployed people opening their own business for the first time—in total, there were 236 such people last year.
“For now, we are trying to obtain as many job offers as possible. In April, we are organizing the third edition of the Job Fair. Everyone is invited—both those who want to find a job and those who want to change jobs,” says Ewa Hryciów.
The government’s draft budget bill for 2011 radically reduced funding for supporting the unemployed. All Employment Offices are struggling with the same problem. Who will be affected by the budget cuts? Reducing funds for internships will affect students. For young people entering their first professional job, an internship funded by the Employment Office was often the only way to gain experience and then find employment. Less money means fewer businesses established by the unemployed and probably fewer training courses that helped them find work. The purpose of the budget cuts is to stop the growth of public debt. For now, they threaten an unstoppable rise in unemployment.
(information by Grażyna Hanaf)