Irkutsk region will receive an additional more than 282.9 million rubles from the federal budget for measures to reduce tension in the labor market. The funds will support the unemployed and workers at risk of dismissal, as well as public works, internships, retraining, and self employment development. Special attention in the program is given to Baikalsk residents who lost their jobs after the Baikalsk pulp and paper mill stopped.

Irkutsk Oblast will receive an additional about 283 million rubles from the federal budget in 2009 for the implementation of a program to reduce tension in the labor market, said the region’s governor Dmitry Mezentsev.
A government commission chaired by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov approved amendments to the program of additional measures to reduce tension in the labor market of Irkutsk Oblast, proposed by the region. This was reported by Governor of Irkutsk Oblast Dmitry Mezentsev following his trip to Moscow. As a result, by the end of the year Irkutsk Oblast will receive an additional more than 282.9 million rubles from the federal budget for the implementation of measures to assist the unemployed, laid-off citizens, or those at risk of dismissal. In total, 482.9 million rubles are allocated to the region for these purposes. Under the previously approved program, 76 million has already been received by the oblast.
“Ensuring employment for the population in today’s difficult economic conditions is one of the priority tasks of the Government of Irkutsk Oblast,” Dmitry Mezentsev emphasized. “We promptly prepared an application for additional funding based on the results of monitoring the labor market situation, understanding that the well-being of many residents of the oblast depends on the speed of our actions.”
The head of the region particularly noted that the program provides support for residents of Baikalsk who lost their jobs due to the shutdown of the city-forming enterprise — the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill. More than 16 million rubles is planned to be allocated for these purposes by the end of the year across all program measures.
Among them are the organization of public works in organizations and at socially significant facilities, internships to gain work experience, assistance in developing small business and self-employment for unemployed citizens, advanced vocational training for workers in the event of the threat of mass layoffs, and targeted support for job seekers relocating to another area for employment, the press service of the Governor and Government of Irkutsk Oblast reports.