Prime Minister and Socialist Party chairman Ferenc Gyurcsány announced plans designed to transform the social welfare benefits system after a meeting of cabinet members and senior Socialist Party officials in Dobogókő on Friday.
Gyurcsány announced that the private sector will be involved in plans to ensure that jobless people can work 120 hours a month. He said that prominent companies, mostly in the construction sector, will have to see to it that at least one in ten of their employees comes from a disadvantaged position.
Further plans are that local governments will be financially encouraged to use funds at their disposal to create community work rather than pay benefits, young people may only collect social welfare benefits if they take part in training courses, and the difference between minimum wages and benefits will be widened so that collecting benefits will not be lucrative. More state funds are allocated to community work than in 2001 and 2002, Gyurcsány said, adding that the figure grows every year.
The economy has been whitened to an unprecedented extent in the past two years, he continued, adding that the number of companies paying taxes doubled from 2005 to 2007, while the number of loss-making companies dropped by one third.
“Gyurcsány … said that prominent companies, mostly in the construction sector, will have to see to it that at least one in ten of their employees comes from a disadvantaged position.”
i.e. put some of the “disadvantaged” they are already employing on the books: another sound tax collection move.
Gyurcsány should be collecting welfare instead of posing as a leader. He should be tried for treason and grand larceny.