Cabinet: Employment, Education and Health among Priorities for Future
Bratislava, April 26 (TASR) – Reducing unemployment, building facilities for children aged under three, better functioning public administration and reducing red tape in the business environment are among the main goals of the Government for the next two years, TASR learnt on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Cabinet (Smer-SD) approved a National Reform Programme to this effect at its session on Wednesday.
As many as 54,000 new jobs were created in Slovakia last year, with the unemployment rate falling. The creation of new jobs remains a priority for the Government over the period ahead. “Jobseekers’ profiles with tailor-made guidance as well as new tools for active labour market policies will be introduced as part of employment services,” reads the document.
In addition, more facilities for children up to three years of age should be built, and more flexible employment of mothers with children is expected. “Over the course of the year, several projects supporting the integration of people from marginalised Roma communities will be launched,” stated the Government. Employment growth should be supported by the arrival of several foreign investors.
According to the approved Government programme, the process of collecting taxes has been posting its best results since 2012. “In search of further improvements, the financial administration is planning to introduce an internal assessment of taxpayer reliability. Moreover, a central analytical unit aimed at combating tax evasion is set to be established as well,” states the programme.
Further Government priorities include measures to improve the efficiency of public spending, mainly in transport and health care, and support for science, research and innovation.
Last but not least, the administrative burden in the business sector should be reduced as well. Electronisation in the fields of tax payment and debt collection, as well as the optimisation of business register services should contribute towards this.
