February 26th, 2009

Socialists propose increasing number of Roma in public administration

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Hungary’s governing Socialist party (MSZP) will present a bill to parliament to raise the number of Roma in public administration to 7-8 percent within ten years, government officials said on Wednesday.

The plan aims to strengthen the Roma middle class. Measures will be put in place to ensure that Roma representation in government jobs is proportionate to their percentage of the population, said Laszlo Teleki, ministerial commissioner in charge of Roma affairs.

A database of people belonging to the Roma minority will be compiled on a voluntary basis. This should enable employment for Roma diploma holders, Teleki said, noting that some 10,000 Roma have completed higher education since 2000, he said.

Government commissioner for Roma affairs Ferenc Kondorosi said employment was an important issue, but training and housing would also be in the government’s sightline.

Methods to reduce social tension in connection with the Roma population include providing adequate representation to the Roma in the distribution of public funds, encouraging Roma taxation, transparency in welfare programmes and the efficient use of the labour market, Kondorosi said.

He added that a government proposal for a bank of the poor, as well as humanitarian services should be supported to help encourage self-sustenance among the Roma.

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One Comment

  1. weaverbird says:
    February 26, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Gurcsany Ferenc’s in-depth proposals to help Roma?
    What about the crumbling villages across Hungary and the inhabitants who cannot sustain a living. And the shopkeepers and small businesses that cannot earn a proper a living. And the old people who do not have the means to buy medicine.
    And most of the nation cannot afford to pay their gas and electricity bills. Taxes, have been raised recently, deterring investment.
    More and more job cuts are in the pipeline.
    Plus, if you haven’t already noticed: the world banking system is about to disintegrate.
    From what I have observed, Roma people do not want to fashion themeselves into normal Hungarian society. They preserve their own culture and ways..and are judged accordingly.