Using EU funds to hire job centre staff

5.3.2018

Question for written answer E-001361-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Rosa D'Amato (EFDD)

Job centres are public services which are managed by regional authorities, and which encourage the supply and demand of work in the area, as well as undertaking initiatives and measures relating to current employment policy.

Job centres aim to help citizens who are unemployed, who receive work-related benefits or are at risk of unemployment, and those seeking to change employment.

The report on the work of the Ministry of Labour provides for a reorganisation of the department and its operational bodies.

The plan provides for improvements to its computer systems, training for job centre staff, the development of business services, and a more direct link between the operative programmes and the plan’s goals.

According to the coordinator of the Conference of Regions’ Commission for work, the plan to improve job centres provides for the hiring of 1 600 staff members, of whom 600 will work on the management of inclusive measures and ‘inclusion income’ (REI), using European funds from the 2014/2020[1] Programming.

Can the Commission state whether the current rules allow for European funds to be used to hire job centre staff on permanent contracts?

• [1] www.regioni.it/newsletter/n-3308/del-24-01-2018/centri-per-limpiego-personale-alle-regioni-ripartiti-i-fondi-17601/