The Hungarian government has helped more than 7,000 young people to find or retain their jobs since 2010, Bence Rétvári, State Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs at the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice said on Friday.

The State Secretary addressed a forum focusing on youth unemployment and the Central European right-of-centre governments' response to it. The event was organised by the Robert Schuman Institute and the Foundation for a Civic Hungary.

Bence Rétvári said that companies employing young people are partly or fully exempted from paying taxes and social security contributions after them for a certain period.

In addition, young entrepreneurs can receive a non-refundable grant of HUF 3 million (approx. EUR 10,000) and partnerships may be given HUF 6 million, he said.

MEP Csaba Őry of the European People's Party spoke about the EU's youth guarantee scheme, which helps young unemployed people find a job or join a trainee or training programme within four months.

(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)