On Thursday the Ministry of Interior acknowledged the public work programmes of 53 local governments.

DownloadAt the ceremony, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér said that the respective settlements are receiving a total of HUF 148 million to continue and develop their programmes. This year, almost 300 thousand people took part in the public work programme. The largest number worked in November, during there was a day when 217 thousand people were employed concurrently, the Minister said. He mentioned that the aim was to provide meaningful and valuable work to all healthy and capable people who could not get a job on the labour market. He also mentioned that so far 64 settlements have created social cooperatives, which, requiring less government funding, is the next step towards self-maintaining operation and the market. He indicated that in January the number of cooperatives may reach a hundred.

Mr. Pintér also announced that the Cabinet has offered awards of HUF 5, 10 and 15 million for the most innovative initiatives to motivate the establishment of cooperatives. Separate funds will be announced at a later stage for concepts which are not currently part of the programme.

DownloadThe Minister recalled that the Ministry initiated the organisation of public work in the summer of 2011. This is not a goal but a tool, among other things, to enable healthy people not to live from welfare, but to work for the money they receive from the state. He also added that those who take part in the programme are valued by their community and may utilise their experiences on the market in the future.

Mr. Pintér noted that although state-owned companies, forestry commissions and water directorates also took part in the public work programme, the most important role has been played by local governments. He highlighted the agricultural activities performed under START model programmes, as a result of which the plants produced are increasingly often used by settlements for example in public catering or for preservation.

DownloadThe local governments acknowledged at the ceremony have, amongst others, established green-houses, solved water-drainage problems and opened a pasta factory, and they will be purchasing additional equipment or expanding their model programme from the HUF 2 to 4 million received in recognition of their excellent contribution to the public work programme.

(Ministry of Interior)