Employment program for socially vulnerable people
The National Forestry Agency, in the framework of the large-scale employment program initiated by Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, at regional forestry services and "business yards", hired on public works a total of 233 employable citizens receiving social benefits.
According to the Head of the National Forestry Agency, Irakli Mukniashvili, by the end of the year, the Agency will employ an additional 200 socially vulnerable citizens in public works, upon request.
Minister of Environment and Agriculture Otar Shamugia and Minister of Labour, Health and Social Protection Zurab Azarashvili met the employees within the framework of the employment program in the "business yard" of Zestafoni and got acquainted with their working conditions. The "business yard" of Zestafon was opened in September 2020.
At present, 9 foresters and 3 beneficiaries of the employment program are employed in the mentioned "business yard". The forestry Service of the Imereti region serves the population of 12 municipalities. Within the framework of the employment program, 37 people receiving social benefits have already been employed in the Imereti region, and are involved in forestry and agricultural activities - the allocation of forest plots within the framework of social felling, the issuance of documents of timber origin for further transportation, and sorting and stacking of firewood in "business yards", direct sale of firewood and transportation services.
"As part of the employment program, I work in the Imereti Forest Service. It is important to me that public work does not lead to the termination of social assistance. I have three children whom I am raising alone. According to the Prime Minister's decision, our social assistance will be maintained for four years, at the same time, I will be employed and have additional income", said the beneficiary of the employment program, Eter Bakradze, at the meeting held in the "business yard".
In the system of the National Forestry Agency, 790 working places in public works have been determined for the beneficiaries of the employment program, which are receiving social benefits. In 9 regional services of the Agency are already employed: 17 beneficiaries (forest guards) in Kakheti, 33 (forest guards) in Kvemo Kartli, 4 (forest guards) in Shida Kartli, 17 (forest guards) in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, 37 (forest guards) in Imereti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti - 8 (forest guard), Samtskhe-Javakheti - 21 beneficiaries (forest guard), Racha-Lechkhum-Kvemo Svaneti - 46 (forest guard), Guria - 17 (forest guard). It should be noted that 43 "business yards" have already been set up across the country, in almost all regions.
The arrangement of "business yards", along with other innovations envisaged by the new Forest Code, is one of the main tools for introducing sustainable forest management. Social felling will be phased out and the National Forestry Agency will organize the production, sorting, and stacking of timber in "business yards".
