Relief for the restless
Poland's unemployment rate, currently hovering somewhere around 19 percent - the highest in Europe - is now falling, and the trend is gaining speed. What's more, new measures that the government plans to implement this year could drive unemployment below 18 percent for the first time since November 2003.
"The fall of unemployment is accelerating, the monthly pace we are observing is 0.2-0.3 percentage points. Unemployment will be below 19 percent in April compared with an estimated 19.2 percent in March," said Deputy Economy Minister Piotr Kulpa, adding: "If two new instruments enter into force we may see unemployment below 18 percent this year."
He believes the government's plans to withhold welfare to those refusing part-time jobs, as well as to subsidize minimum-wage positions in order to sweeten the incentive to hire low-skilled workers, will get more Poles back on the payrolls.
"The estimated cost of this revolves around zł.1.3 billion calculated for 2006 but benefits from more people working could easily compensate," he said.
Kulpa also said that last May's EU entry helped matters, attracting more foreign investment in the country, which creates jobs domestically. (Reuters) Andrew Kureth
"The fall of unemployment is accelerating, the monthly pace we are observing is 0.2-0.3 percentage points. Unemployment will be below 19 percent in April compared with an estimated 19.2 percent in March," said Deputy Economy Minister Piotr Kulpa, adding: "If two new instruments enter into force we may see unemployment below 18 percent this year."
He believes the government's plans to withhold welfare to those refusing part-time jobs, as well as to subsidize minimum-wage positions in order to sweeten the incentive to hire low-skilled workers, will get more Poles back on the payrolls.
"The estimated cost of this revolves around zł.1.3 billion calculated for 2006 but benefits from more people working could easily compensate," he said.
Kulpa also said that last May's EU entry helped matters, attracting more foreign investment in the country, which creates jobs domestically. (Reuters) Andrew Kureth
