On 13 October 2016 State Secretary Thorben Albrecht received his Romanian counterpart, State Secretary Valentin Ionescu, at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). The meeting focused on consolidating and intensifying cooperation between the two ministries.
The Romanian Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Protection and Older People and the BMAS have been in close contact for years. State Secretary Valentin Ionescu who was newly appointed and took office in August 2016 paid his first visit to our ministry.
It was agreed that active employment policies for young people, older people and other disadvantaged groups as well as issues related to the fight against poverty will be future priorities of cooperation. In addition, the public employment services of the two countries should cooperate bilaterally.
State Secretary Albrecht also informed his counterpart about the content and background of a draft law that was adopted by the Federal Cabinet on the day before their meeting. The draft law regulates the claims of foreign nationals to basic income support for job seekers under Book Two of the German Social Code and to social assistance under Book Twelve of the Code.