The EU Minister of Employment and Social Affairs and colleagues from the Western Balkans met in Slovenia to discuss measures to allow young people to enter the labor market. Regional officials called for the implementation of a youth job security program.
“I believe that employment is a key factor in making young people independent. Young people are a disadvantaged group in the labor market, especially because they lack work experience,” Slovenia’s Minister of Labor Janez Cigler Kralj said in Kran on Thursday (July 8). Rubrdo said after the meeting.
The minister added: “It is vital to support their sustainable integration into the labor market of the European Union and the Western Balkans.”
He emphasized that the most successful projects are for young people to gain practical experience while supporting employers to hire young people.
“We must all ensure that young people have the right to education, apprenticeships, internships or job opportunities within four months after they are unemployed or complete their studies,” Cigler Kralj said.
Other guests introduced their country’s measures to promote youth employment and make youth employment quality.
They also exchanged views on the structural challenges faced by young people in the labor market, especially as part of the green and digital transformation.
The ministers agreed that the youth security program needs to be further developed and strengthened.
According to Cigler Kralj, partners in the Western Balkans are ready to gradually establish, implement and develop such programs.
He said that he is also pleased that the ministers and representatives of the Western Balkans have confirmed their commitment to further close cooperation in this field and strengthen their efforts to prevent youth unemployment.
The European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights Nicholas Schmidt emphasized that young people in the Western Balkans are part of the European youth and therefore need to give them hope and concrete solutions to create a better future.
He believes that the Youth Guarantee Program is a strong and clear commitment that young people will be taken care of and provide solutions, and added that the Western Balkans must develop economic policies that can create new jobs.
He said that another focus is on skills and expertise, especially in terms of digitization.
The meeting at Brdo pri Kranju was the second meeting of the EU Minister of Employment and Social Affairs and his colleagues in the Western Balkans. It is part of a two-day informal meeting of EU Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs held during Slovenia’s EU presidency.
