| The report on activities realised in 2nd
and 3rd stage of the Twinning project “Support for the Strengthening of
Labour Market Organisations” From the
beginning of January 2001 until the beginning of October 2001 seven Working Groups concluded
second stage of activities and two Working Groups ended third stage of
activities. This period was focused on the introduction of pilot models,
improvement of operations in pilot offices, monitoring and evaluation of pilots’
activities. Working Groups took into consideration changes and adjustments pilot offices
had to make as well as improvement of systems in practice. It helped create more detailed
recommendations for the implementation of the current pilots, improvement to systems and
for the future introduction of pilots to other areas and local offices of the ESS.
Seven Working Groups
under second and third stage of Twinning activities
Improvement to Internal and External Control and Monitoring Systems
- Improvement
of Job-Broking Services
- Elaboration of the Concept for Establishing a Special Pilot Unit in
a Local Employment Office
- Setting up
Quality Standards for Service Provision to Clients
- Establishment of a Centralised System for Payment of Unemployment
Benefits and Other Types of Assistance
1st
Component – Strengthening the Operational Capacity of the ESS
1.
Improvement to Internal and External Control and Monitoring Systems 
In stage 2 the Working Group continued with the realisation of set objectives in
all four areas: improvement to work monitoring systems, improvement to the information
system supporting decision making, improvement to external control and internal audit
within the Employment Service of Slovenia.
As far as improvement to work monitoring systems is concerned, second stage
of activities was aimed at creating a model for monitoring work regarding co-operation
with employers (activities with regard to job-broking procedures). That model was tested
in the Ptuj Local Office, which is one of the three pilot offices for improvement of
job-broking systems. Results from the implementation phase helped towards improvements and
additions to the model. Opinions and suggestions given by the employees from the pilot
office were not ignored.
Improvement to the information system supporting decision making was focused, in
the second stage of activities, on the establishment of the pilot management
information system in regard to scholarships. Training was delivered for the ESS employees
involved directly in building of the management information system. Through special
browsing tools the management information system will enable users to review the data
(combined in contextual data marts) relatively easy, to monitor ESS operations in a better
and more detailed manner, to prepare operational plans and with decision making.
Activities in the improvement to external control systems area under stage 2
consisted of implementation of the pilot model for the improvement of external control
procedures concerning sheltered workshops and labour funds. The purpose of this model was
to improve the procedure of external control, establish instruments for monitoring
external control procedures, re-enforce the counselling role of external control as well
as proposals for improving the quality of ESS services. It will mean forwarding proposals
for measures regarding ESS contractual partners if it is found they do not fulfil agreed
obligations when implementing employment programmes.
During stage 2 of Twinning improvement to internal audit included
improvement to internal control within ESS operational activities, improvement of
mechanisms for monitoring performance and detecting deviations from the operational plan,
introduction of instruments for the assessment of performance and make methods of
examining suspected frauds of the unemployed and external providers perfect. The review of
a legal groundwork regarding internal audit within the British Employment Service was of a
great help to the Working Group.
2. Improvement of Job-Broking Services
The emphasis in the second stage was given to the
pilot project Improvement of Job-broking Systems and co-operation with
employers in three pilot offices: Ajdovščina, Domžale and Ptuj. Set objectives were
monitored quantitatively and findings noted bearing in mind that experience and
recommendations by the pilots’ employees were taken into consideration. In that manner the
introduction of needed changes and adjustments during the pilot implementation was
enabled.
Among main objectives of the improved job-broking
systems are as follows:
- disburdening of employment advisers from administrative
tasks,
- more time spent on counselling with unemployed persons,
- quicker response to vacancies,
- strengthening co-operation with the employer target
groups based on personal contacts and visits to employers, and in the long term, increase
of employment of the unemployed.
3.
Elaboration of the Concept for Establishing a Special Pilot Unit in a Local Employment
Office
In the second stage of activities detailed
preparations were made for the introduction of a self-service informative
corner in the Novo mesto Local Office. The Working Group introduced methodology for
organisation and operations of the self-service unit and defined mechanisms of
control and monitoring. Employees were informed and trained for work in the
self-service informative unit.
The implementation started under third stage
of Twinning activities. The self-service unit was established in the reception area
of the Novo mesto Local Office. The Working Group members provided information on
the introduction of the self-service unit to target groups, local
community and public institutions. The Working Group monitored operations of
the self-service corner and made an analysis of the pilot activities. The analysis
questionnaire conducted among participants in the self-service unit about their
satisfaction with the self-service information offer also incorporated response to
opinions, recommendations and views from the Novo mesto Local Office employees. Basic
standards, conditions and possibilities were determined for introducing
self-service units to other local offices.
The self-service unit is not aimed only at unemployed
persons, but also at other job seekers, redundant workers, pupils, secondary school
students (and their parents), students and employers. Visitors to the self-service unit
have access to the web sites and other information on the labour market and
employment, education, training, scholarships, self-testing programmes, Word,
and if needed, informative-counselling assistance.
4. Setting up
Quality Standards for Service Provision to Clients
Pilot project Setting up Quality Standards for Service
Provision to Clients started in the second stage of Twinning in the Koper Pilot
Office. In order to provide as consistent and efficient realisation of standards in
practice as possible, the Working Group created methodology for monitoring the
implementation of standards. The Working Group delivered an informative seminar and
training for the Koper Regional Office employees. Assessments were made regarding
the realisation of standards which resulted in certain improvements and
an evaluation report. Findings, ideas and recommendations by the employees involved in the
pilot were taken into account.
In stage 3 of the project the Working Group
informed the Koper Regional Office employees on monitoring and assessment results. A
timetable was prepared for the gradual introduction of set and tested standards
to other local offices.
Set quality standards during the pilot implementation
included reduced waiting time for clients, simplified registration procedures, manner in
which ESS employees present themselves, signage of the office, how clear, updated,
understandable and accessible provided information is and public display of the ESS
performance.
5.
Establishment of a Centralised System for Payment of Unemployment Benefits and Other Types
of Assistance
Detailed timetable plan was prepared in stage 2
of Twinning for the implementation of recommendations aimed at the
establishment of a centralised system for payment of unemployment benefits and
other types of assistance as well as payments to contractual partners of the ESS,
especially in regard to the active employment policy programmes.
3rd
Component – Increased Involvement of Non-Public Bodies in the Provision of Labour Market
Services
During stage 2 the Working Group under
Component 3 prepared (taking the current legislation into account) Proposal of Measures
and Criteria for Setting Standards for Employment Programmes. Proposal for
the Standard Range of Active Employment Policy Programmes was also prepared.
Results from the survey conducted on the ESS professional employees at the local, regional
and central level were very helpful.
Proposal of Measures and Criteria enables the
uniformity of key standards regarding the implementation of individual programmes of the
Active Employment Policy. The proposal defines conditions which should be fulfilled by
providers of the employment programmes. It refers to the general conditions, adequacy of
the premises, required equipment and teaching aids, adequate qualifications of the staff,
preparation of informative materials. The Proposal also defines the size of participant
groups, monitoring and evaluation of programmes.
Proposal for the Standard Range of Programmes
defines Active Employment Policy Programmes and target groups which enables better
overview. Separation of standard programmes (to be implemented in all regional offices) is
anticipated from those to be delivered (in accordance with local needs) only in some
regional offices of the ESS.
4th
Component – Preparation for Participation in the European Social Fund
In the second stage of activities the Working
Group prepared a Manual and suggested a training programme for the ESS employees
dealing with European Social Fund appropriations. Tasks were determined, which
could be in the ESS competency for the implementation of ESF activities in
Slovenia at the national and regional level including how to manage these funds and
control the expenditure. Training on the European Social Fund to the Working Group
members and other ESS professionals was delivered by two Irish short-term experts.
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