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Government
announces a strategy to generate more jobs
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Friday, the government presented the National Employment Strategy. The goal is to restore confidence and optimism to private citizens and the business sector. While presenting the strategy, President Carlos Alvarado said that his "government has absolute clarity that the most important national challenge is for Costa Rica to generate more jobs." The plan consists of a diagnosis of the current socio-economic situation and the production of a series of actions to create more jobs. According to the government, the strategy establishes an investment of $9.5 billion during 2019-2022, for infrastructure, education, airports, hospitals, and security, among others. Among the main goals included in this strategy are: - Sixty-eight percent of the total budget will be invested in infrastructure (i.e. roads, or bridges). - 29 percent will be invested in public services like healthcare, energy, water, education, and housing projects. - The government will present Congress with a bill authorizing the Ministry of Education to build schools on land not titled in the Ministry's name. - The government will also create a decree to accelerate the process of public investment. - The strategy also includes the recently passed Law on Strengthening Competition Authorities, which seeks to create better conditions for competition among companies. - The creation of a credit line for small businesses. - Also included as part of the strategy, is the Only Essential tourism campaign designed to attract more tourists from the United States and Canada. As A.M. Costa Rica previously reported in June, President Carlos Alvarado announced more than 3,000 jobs would be created while the government simplifies procedures for companies. The president signed a decree that creates the National Employment System (SNE). The SNE is a public organization that will coordinate employment services to generate new jobs for people who are in a more vulnerable condition. The SNE will be headed by a council made up of government representatives, workers, and private companies. In addition, the National Employment Agency was created. It will be in charge of the National Apprentice Institute, which will have branches throughout the country available to both people and companies. The SNE will support people looking for a job by creating a database of candidates, providing training, and by being the intermediary before and after hiring. "Today I commit myself to do everything in my power to generate employment opportunities for Costa Ricans. I know that we can do this," said President Alvarado. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Census, from January to August the unemployment rate was 11.9 percent. This is equivalent to 296,000 unemployed people. In addition, the percentage of people with informal employment was 44.9 percent. This is equivalent to 971,000 people with informal jobs. Informal employment includes those who work or generate income outside a formal work environment. Informal employment includes street vendors, gardeners, and domestic service workers, among others. ------------------------ What steps can the government take to reduce the unemployment rate? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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