Thematic cabinet meeting concentrates on structural reform in education, labour, health care

Kolašin, Montenegro (7 March 2014) – The Government of Montenegro's started on Friday afternoon in Kolašin, Montenegro's winter tourist centre, its first two-day thematic session on boosting structural reforms in the areas of education, labour and social welfare, and health care.

Introductory speeches delivered by the prime minister, deputies and line ministers defined main problems in these areas, stressing the significance of the thorough method of work in promoting a collective approach of addressing the strategic development priorities from the government’s agenda, which cannot be provided through the Cabinet's regular sessions.

Deputy Prime Minister Vujica Lazović emphasised that structural reforms are aimed at increasing the quality of life and productivity of work, which can be created through intelligent planning and targeted measures. He added that structural reforms have to identify main obstacles to Montenegro's development in these areas.

Minister of Education Slavoljub Stijepović said that harmonisation between high education and the labour market's needs, external evaluation of all institutions of high education, as well as introduction of entrepreneurial learning at all levels of education, are crucial for pursuing structural reforms in the field of education. The government will also focus on reform of financing of high education, advanced preschool education and introduction of IT technologies in curricula, Minister Stijepović pointed out.

Labour relations, advancement of the labour market, pension reform, as well as introduction of so-called "one-stop shop" for employment of foreigners, will take central stage on the Government's labour and social welfare reform agenda, Labour Minister Predrag Bošković underlined.

As to health care, the Government will concentrate its efforts on pursuing reforms that will create a high quality and more efficient health care system, and enable easier access to health care services. It will also pay particular attention to pharmaceutical policy reform, chronic non contagious diseases, building of new clinics and continuation of the transplantation programme, Health Minister Miodrag Radunović explained.

The thematic session will be continued tomorrow, when the line ministers, as well as other Cabinet members, will present concrete policies and measures in tackling the crucial issues for the Montenegrin society.