Brussels, 18/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 December, the European Commission adopted a proposal to improve the way the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF) works. The aim is to provide better and faster help for those who lose their jobs as a result of the economic crisis. Since its launch two years ago, the EGF has helped over 15,000 workers who have been made redundant, the Commission points out. The proposal is part of the economic recovery plan.
The amendments brought to the 2006 EGF regulation are: - lowering the eligibility threshold for EGF applications from 1000 to 500 redundant workers; - extending the duration of EGF support to 24 months, from 12 currently, so as to allow sufficient time for the measures to be effective in re-integrating particularly the most vulnerable workers into new jobs; - increasing the EU financial contribution from 50% to 75% to better reflect the emergency nature of the contribution (the other portion being paid by member states); - temporarily broadening the scope of eligibility for assistance under the EGF to encompass workers adversely affected by the economic and financial crisis, and not only those (as is the case at present) who lose their jobs as a result of changes in world trade patterns. (L.C./transl.rt)