Those fit for work will work for welfare

OBRENOVAC - Serbia's Minister of Labour, Veteran and Social Affairs Aleksandar Vulin rejected on Tuesday the criticism related to putting people on welfare to work.

"Those who are fit to work and are on welfare will work for that welfar and they will do what is in accordance with their skills and physical fitness... and that will be determined by the Social Work Centre," he stated.

The centres will sign agreements with the local governments that need such work, like mowing lawns, cemetery maintenance and snow clearance, he explained.

No one is asking people who are in a state of poverty to do something shameful, he said.

"Those who do not want to work for whatever reason, but are fit to work, will be offered one more chance. Their welfare will be reduced, but that going to their children, who are not to blame for their father's or mother's refusal to work when they are able to," Vulin noted.

Welfare should not be a lasting category, becauwe it is not a job, he pointed out.

"It is a bad moment and a problem individuals find themselves in... and they should fight and overcome that problem," he said.

The government adopted on October 15 a regulation on measures for social inclusion of people on welfare, which were cirticised by the opposition in the parliament on Tuesday.

Parliament members from the Democratic Party and New Party, Gordana Comic and Zoran Zivkovic, stated that the regulation that forced those on welfare to work orr get an education in order to keep getting welfare was incomprehensible and in violation of the labour law.

Photo Tanjug Video, camera operator Djordje Spasic