Integrated policy needed to combat poverty – the messages from the round table on poverty and inequality in society
The round table ‘Poverty and inequality in society – challenges for sustainable development’, was held in Zagreb on 14 June 2016, organized by the Croatian Network for Rural Development-HMRR, Croatian network against poverty-HMPS and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The organization of this event, supported by ODRAZ and Croatian Chamber of Crafts, brought together some 70 representatives of cities, universities, associations, trade unions, ministries and other stakeholders.
The event was moderated by Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, director of ODRAZ, but also a member of HMRR Board and the EESC, together with Nino Žganec from Faculty of Law, Department of Social Work and Croatian Anti Poverty Network.
Lidija Pavic-Rogosic initially presented Global sustainable development goals, which EU institutions and Member States should take into account and integrate into their strategies. The focus was put on goal No.1: Eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere in the world.
The rapporteur of the EESC opinion on combating poverty, Seamus Boland presented the opinion and necessary measures. He noted that the EU adopted a target that by 2020 the number of 24 million people who are for many years in poverty, will be reduced to 20 million. However, this number is increasing. The data indicate that the crisis and the austerity policies across the EU, dramatically increased the scale and depth of poverty. EU protects the euro, protects the security, strengthening defense, but fight against poverty is not among those priorities, said Boland.
The EESC has in recent years launched a number of initiatives and organized many events that dealt with issues such as combating poverty, child poverty, measures to reduce social exclusion, the growing problem of poverty despite employment, the introduction of minimum income at European level, fairer taxation and need to include social measures in the design and implementation of EU policies related to single market.
Prof. Emeritus Vlado Puljiz spoke about Inequality and Social Policy in Croatia. In the absence of reliable data on inequality in Croatia, the recommendation is to intensify research on inequalities, in order to lead successful fight to reduce them, said Puljiz. Particular attention should be paid to inequalities in education, which should include investment in the education of children at an early age, and investing in lifelong learning.
Member of the EESC and SSSH Ana Miličević Pezelj talked about the new social risks – the phenomenon of increasing poverty among the employed. The reason is, among other things, the increasing use of atypical forms of employment contracts. Not only in Croatia, but also in the European Union there are more and more cases of the abuse of atypical employment contracts. The share of temporary employed in Croatia in the last few years begun to increase, and low incomes are one of the main causes of emigration of labour from the Croatian, considers Miličević Pezelj. The mechanism for the calculation of the minimum wage should be the same in all EU countries, in amount of 60% of the average salary. Her presentation was concluded by saying that it is necessary to make decisions based on research and data and make an integrated policy against poverty.
Zoran Šućur spoke about the differences between urban and rural poverty in the Croatia. Unlike unemployment and employment, which are measured at the individual level, poverty is measured at the household level. EU countries differ in poverty rates in urban and rural areas. For example, in highly urbanized countries in the European Union, with a small percentage of the rural population, a small proportion of poverty among the rural population is noticed. After joining of post-socialist countries, there was a ‘ruralization’ of Europe with increased share of rural poverty. Although rural residents are mostly homeowners, they live in worse conditions then urban inhabitants, which indicates that residential status is not an indicator of the quality of housing.
After presentations, lively debate was developed, in which also participated Diana Topčić Rosenberg, Deputy Minister of Social Policy and Youth and Romana Galic, Deputy Head of the City of Zagreb department for social protection and persons with disabilities.
The fight against poverty should be multi-sectoral and encompass various levels and should not be treated only as part of social policy. Social work needs to be proactive, rather than reactive – at the end of the meeting concluded Nino Žganec.
The event had a very noticeable echo in the media.