Addressing a workshop in Budapest, Barbara Kauffmann, the European Commission’s Director for Employment and Social Governance, said the country report published in February will be the basis of the Commission’s country specific recommendations to be issued in May.

The report praises a more targeted treatment of job seekers by creating different categories for them and a gradual introduction of a youth guarantee programme. It calls it problematic that the government’s work schemes are supervised by several ministries.

The report also questions the fostered work programme’s success in returning clients to the workforce and indicated that for some people enrolled in the programme this is not the best solution.

Systematic monitoring and feedback are also missing from the programme, the report said. It noted that at three months Hungary has the shortest period in the EU of paying job-seekers’ allowances.

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