The report on the final stage of activities in the Phare Twinning project "Support for the Strengthening of Labour Market Organisations"

Seven Working Groups carried out the final stage of their activities from the beginning of June to the beginning of December 2001. For five Working Groups this was the third stage of activities, and for two Working Groups this was the fourth stage of activities. The time period of the final stage of the project was aimed at the completion of introduced pilot models and improvement to systems in pilot offices and activities of the Employment Service of Slovenia. On the basis of monitoring and assessment of pilot operation, more detailed proposals were made for the gradual expansion of tested models and improvement to systems within the entire Employment Service following the official conclusion of the project.

Seven Working Groups in the final stage of activities

Improvement to Internal and External Control and Monitoring systems

In the final, third stage of activities the Working Group directed its efforts toward completing tasks in all four areas, including improvement to work monitoring systems, improvement to the information system for supporting decision making, improvement to external control systems and improvement to internal audit within the Employment Service of Slovenia.

Improvement to work monitoring systems: in the final stage of activities a model for monitoring work regarding co-operation with employers related to job-broking procedures was completed. The final improvements and adaptations of the model were based upon the pilot operation of this model in the Ptuj Local Office, which was one of the three pilot offices for improvement of job-broking systems. Proposals were created for more effective co-operation with employers in job-broking procedures.

Improvement to the information system for supporting decision making: the final stage of activities was focused on setting up guidelines for the comprehensive development of the management information system at the Employment Service of Slovenia. In this process, the introduction of a pilot model of the management information system in regard to scholarships and exchanging experience with Swedish expert in the establishment of the management information system were helpful. The latter will contribute to better monitoring of the ESS operations, preparation of operational plans and decision making.

Improvement to external control systems: the final stage of activities was dedicated to the preparation of documents on the more effective performance of external control. Its purpose is to verify the fulfilment of obligations on the part of the ESS contractual partners implementing employment activities, as well as to issue recommendations for enhancing the quality of work at the Employment Service.

The final stage of activities in improving internal audit first and foremost encompassed the harmonisation of the contents of the Document on internal audit operation prior to its final approval. The system of internal audit relates to the internal control within the ESS operational activities, to the mechanisms for monitoring performance and detecting deviations from the operational plan, and to the methods for examining suspected frauds on the part of the unemployed and the external providers of employment programmes.

The final, third stage of activities included implementation of the pilot model for improvement of job-broking systems and co-operation with employers in three pilot offices in Ajdovščina, Domžale and Ptuj. Monitoring of pilot implementation on the basis of prepared methodology included quantitative monitoring of set objectives and simultaneous recording of findings. Accordingly, the pilot model for improvement of job-broking systems was completed and a proposal for its gradual introduction into other local offices of the Employment Service as a whole was prepared.

For the improvement of the job-broking system, the strengthening of an active role of the Employment Service in its relations with employers is of fundamental significance and, along with this, increasing the employment of the unemployed in the long term.

Elaboration of the Concept for Establishing a Special Pilot Unit in a Local Employment Office

Increased Involvement of Non-Public Bodies in Provision of Labour Market Services

In the final, third stage of activities the Working Group undertook the preparation of a uniform methodology for monitoring the effectiveness of education and training programmes and defining a uniform monitoring of the effectiveness of these programmes.

The uniform methodology for monitoring the effectiveness of education and training programmes relates to conducting supervision over the implementation of programmes, also by obtaining responses from participants in the programmes, assessments of employment advisers and reports from external providers of programmes. Monitoring of programmes was defined with regard to basic indicators of effectiveness, the inclusion of target groups, participants’ satisfaction and the expenses of the programmes implementation.

The uniform monitoring of the effectiveness of education and training programmes anticipates, among other things, monitoring the inclusion of various target groups in individual programmes as well as monitoring their entry into employment during the term of the programme or in a specified time period following the conclusion of the programme.

In the final, third stage of activities the Working Group defined an organisational framework at national and regional level for management and administration of ESF activities within the Employment Service of Slovenia.

During a study visit to Ireland, members of the Working Group received useful information and additional knowledge about the European Social Fund. This also helped them in supplementing an extensive manual that was produced in the course of the Working Group's activities. It will serve as an essential resource for the ESS staff, especially in the training programme dealing with the European Social Fund appropriations.