He said Hungary could install fences on other sections of its border if necessary, adding that the budget would also cover the costs of fortifying the existing ones if need be. The minister said the Hungarian government’s measures aimed at managing the migrant crisis had “not been in vain”, arguing that Budapest is among the most secure European capitals today.

Varga said security was an important aspect when it comes to any investment. Judging by the feedback Hungary has received, international market players appreciate the effort the Hungarian government has made to boost public safety, he said.

On the subject of Hungary’s economy, the minister said it was crucial for Hungarian skilled workers to be able to make a living in Hungary and to receive respectable wages for their work. “The process isn’t magic. In addition to higher wages, we have to pay attention to training, too,” he added.

Hungary’s unemployment rate is around 4.5%, he noted, adding that there are tens of thousands of public workers in the economy. These workers can eventually ease the labour shortage in certain sectors, he said. To make this possible, the government will introduce measures in the autumn to retrain Hungarians in fostered work programmes and match them individually with sectors suffering labour shortages, he said.

The government has mapped out those sectors of the economy in which it can quickly fill labour gaps by retraining the unemployed or people in fostered work programmes, said Varga, naming the metal industry and tourism as such sectors.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

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