Parliament on Monday approved legislation reducing the maximum period Hungarians are eligible for jobless benefits to 90 days from 270 at present.
The upper limit of the unemployment benefit will drop to the minimum wage from 120% of the minimum wage.
The legislation also stipulates that jobseekers offered places in public work programs who refuse to participate and cannot give sufficient reason for an exemption ─ such as being the caregiver of a small child or a sick relative ─ will lose their benefits.
Most of the elements of the legislation come into force from September 1, 2011.
Hungary’s government said jobseekers benefits would be cut to 90 days in its updated Convergence Program, submitted to Brussels in April. Annual savings of almost HUF 43 billion were seen in both 2012 and 2013 because of the change.
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