Labor Minister asks PM Massimov to earmark extra money to finance Employment Program

At the Government's sitting Kazakhstan’s Minister of Labor and Social Protection Ms. Gulshara Abdykalikova asked the country’s PM Karim Massimov to earmark extra $675 million to finance the National Employment Program in the country's regions, a Tengrinews.kz journalist reports. According to Ms. Abdykalikova, a total of 204 employment agencies have been launched, with 37 500 people employed in the H2 2011 alone. As of January 1, 2012 professional training and retraining programs have been offered to 69 000 people. When unveiling the State-run Program to boost Employment before 2020 July 11, 2011 the Labour Minister said that the Program would cover a total of 1.5 million people by 2015. The poverty level is to be brought down to 6%, with unemployment standing at 5.5%. In 2011 $274 million was earmarked out of the central budget to finance the program. $341 million has been allocated this year so far. “I instruct the Government and regional governors to widely implement the Program starting from this year”, President Nazarbayev said in his State of the Nation Address January 27, emphasizing that microcredits should be made available to businesses in rural areas. “For those willing to move to move to urban areas, the Government should provide training and employment opportunities. New jobs should be offered to at least 1.5 million people by 2020”, President said.