Unemployment, poverty on rise in Serbia

As World Food Day is marked globally, statistics show that some half a million citizens of Serbia live below poverty line. Families with many members, children, unemployed, single parents and disabled persons are among the hardest hit. Unemployment, poverty on rise in Serbia Some 68,000 families receive welfare assistance, while those suffering severe poverty also rely on soup kitchens for their day-to-day existential needs. Rural households are more likely to suffer that those in cities, while the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy data shows that persons who lost their jobs during privatizations of companies are also more likely to become poor. Minister Rasim Ljajic will today travel to the municipality of Crna Trava, in the south of the country, which statistics show is the poorest in Serbia. Zarko Sunderic, manager of a team set up to produce a poverty reduction strategy, says that the recent data published by the Statistical Office shows unemployment and poverty increased in 2010. Sunderic says that measures that could bring immediate help to those most vulnerable include better social protection, but that long-term strategy to eradicate poverty must also focus on better education, considering that most of the poor today have only elementary school education. A new law on micro loans is also in the works, this official announced. Micro loans will be designed to help those unlikely to find jobs and unable to take out commercial bank loans.

Unemployment, poverty on rise in Serbia

Some 68,000 families receive welfare assistance, while those suffering severe poverty also rely on soup kitchens for their day-to-day existential needs.

Rural households are more likely to suffer that those in cities, while the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy data shows that persons who lost their jobs during privatizations of companies are also more likely to become poor.

Minister Rasim Ljajić will today travel to the municipality of Crna Trava, in the south of the country, which statistics show is the poorest in Serbia.

Žarko Šunderić, manager of a team set up to produce a poverty reduction strategy, says that the recent data published by the Statistical Office shows unemployment and poverty increased in 2010.

Šunderić says that measures that could bring immediate help to those most vulnerable include better social protection, but that long-term strategy to eradicate poverty must also focus on better education, considering that most of the poor today have only elementary school education.

A new law on micro loans is also in the works, this official announced. Micro loans will be designed to help those unlikely to find jobs and unable to take out commercial bank loans.