Third employment program to launch in May
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Friday, April 11
The government’s third three-month employment program is scheduled to launch next month, ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for May 21.
The current employment program, managed by the Labor Ministry, will end in late April and the Economic Development Ministry will oversee the implementation of the next program, which is open to 18 to 25 year olds, the newspaper Rezonansi reports.
Program participants earn GEL 200 a month in internships with private companies. The government says this provides unemployed people with a more marketable skills set, and there is potential for companies to hire apprentices full time when the programs end.
Prime News agency recently reported that People’s Bank hired 300 interns from the previous employment program.
The government initiative has attracted some criticism, however, and MP and former economy minister Lado Papava says it does not lead to long-term employment. “This is just giving money to the unemployed people,” the newspaper Rezonansi quoted him as saying.
The current employment program, managed by the Labor Ministry, will end in late April and the Economic Development Ministry will oversee the implementation of the next program, which is open to 18 to 25 year olds, the newspaper Rezonansi reports.
Program participants earn GEL 200 a month in internships with private companies. The government says this provides unemployed people with a more marketable skills set, and there is potential for companies to hire apprentices full time when the programs end.
Prime News agency recently reported that People’s Bank hired 300 interns from the previous employment program.
The government initiative has attracted some criticism, however, and MP and former economy minister Lado Papava says it does not lead to long-term employment. “This is just giving money to the unemployed people,” the newspaper Rezonansi quoted him as saying.