Simona Bucura-Oprescu, Minister of Labor, announces an extremely important step implemented by Romania during this period, because it hosted the 23rd Managerial Conference of the Center of Public Employment Services from South-Eastern European Countries, with the theme "Digitalization of Public Employment Services ”, this being a traditional conference, attended by specialists from Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Moldova, Slovenia and Turkey.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu emphasized the importance of improving the skills of employees in the context of increasingly accelerated changes on the labor market, increasing the role of the EURES network, as well as the need to develop the capacity of public employment services to offer services adapted to the current requirements of those looking for a job, in relation with the real needs of employers.
"The National Employment Agency (ANOFM) is a key institution for professional training and integration on the labor market. We want to increase the administrative capacity of ANOFM and develop the infrastructure of each local employment service to ensure the best services for citizens and employers.
We want a close collaboration between employers, the educational system and ANOFM, so that we can correctly anticipate the needs of the labor market. ANOFM implemented this year an innovative mechanism, ReCONECT, through which we bring together graduates of various forms of education, the public employment service and employers and, thus, we can adapt the professional training offer to the employers' requirements," declared Minister Simona Bucura-Oprescu.
"This Conference gives us the opportunity to discuss the challenges of digitization, to share good practices and to strengthen the professional relations between our institutions. We have the opportunity to get to know better the situation on the labor markets in the member countries of the Center, as well as the challenges that our public services are currently facing. We also welcome the accession of the Republic of Moldova to CPESSEC, an important step for the consolidation of regional cooperation.
Digitization creates new opportunities, but also brings challenges related to data security and the impact on jobs. It is vital to adapt the employment services to modern requirements and to invest in the continuous training of workers in order to meet the market's requirements," said Florin Cotosman, president of ANOFM.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu conveys that in the discussion groups within the Conference, both at the managerial level and at the level of experts, important topics for the labor market are addressed, such as the digitization of employment services and the facilitation of the transition of young people from school to the labor market.
The conference also addresses the development of the social economy and investments in the circular economy and the revitalization of crafts, using European funds to encourage the development of these skills. The participants emphasize the need for European Union support for financing initiatives aimed at increasing employees' skills, especially in the fields of language, digital and green skills.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu confirms that the main objective of the event is to increase the level of employment and offer professional opportunities that bring satisfaction and better incomes for citizens. Through close collaboration between employers, the educational system and ANOFM, we want to correctly anticipate the needs of the labor market and adapt professional training services to current requirements.
The conference represents an important platform for discussing the current and future challenges of the labor market in the region, at the same time strengthening the cooperation between the participating countries and promoting good practices in the field of public employment services.
