Govt planning multi-purpose Roma centres, boosting social work efforts

Igor Feketija, a state secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, spoke to the press about plans to open several multi-purpose Roma centres, secure 130 additional jobs in individual social work centres, and open three day centres for children from the Roma community.

Feketija said more money would be allocated for the multi-purpose Roma centres than had been the case for such centres that operated in the past, while he also announced more multi-generational centres.

He explained that social work centres working on the ground with the Roma community will get 30 additional staff, while 100 more people will be employed in individual social centres as part of an EU project.

In what has been a heated political debate after the police acknowledged its numbers need to be boosted and approach changed to cope with repeating and escalating incidents involving members of the Roma community in municipalities in the southeast, Feketija also commented on calls for a part of social transfers to the Roma to be paid in kind rather than in cash.

While noting that this is already possible in certain cases if agreed upon, he argued "we do not agree with turning social work centres and social transfers into some kind of repressive apparatus and tool for punishment".

"We need to be aware that we have an effective system of social transfers," he stressed. In his opinion, the idea that high social transfers destroy motivation to work is a myth. Feketija announced that they will respond to individual proposals for changes in this area at the beginning of September.

He pointed out that about a year ago, a task force that includes representatives of Roma communities, municipalities, and NGOs started working at the ministry. The group highlighted living conditions as a key area needing attention.

"It's probably understandable that a child born in a hut without electricity, water and sewage will struggle to complete elementary school," he said.

Recently, the group has also identified issues with juvenile delinquency, noting that "some minors are being exploited for criminal activities." They have also observed domestic violence and violence against women, including child marriages.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry also announced several amendments to the elementary school act, with preschool and elementary education official Rado Kostrevc saying the aim was to refine the section on class attendance.

"We'll clarify the process for justifying absences and how to handle situations where parents don't respond to school inquiries about absences," he explained.

On Thursday, Justice Minister Andreja Katič and State Secretaries Andreja Kokalj and Milan Brglez will meet with Interior Ministry representatives to discuss Roma-related matters. A press statement is expected following the meeting.