The Government of Georgia is considering introduction of a mandatory unemployment insurance mechanism in the country, under the new Social Code, which has been officially announced recently, Trend reports with reference to Georgian media.

The new Social Code includes mandatory medical insurance, social, unemployment, as well as accident and temporary disability benefits. The Social Code reform is aimed at introducing a comprehensive and integrated approach to the social protection system, which includes development of a regulatory framework for the social, health and insurance sectors.

"We have a strong partner represented by the European Union, as well as France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This global and important reform is essential to working with the EU. Parliament will be involved in the process", said Minister of Health Ekaterina TIKARADZE at the presentation of the Social Code.

Deputy Minister of Health Tamar Barkalaia noted that the main goal of the Code is to provide adequate protection to the citizens, which includes social payments, health care needs, labor market policy, as well as unemployment insurance and reinsurance.

The corresponding recommendations will be developed based on the minimum social protection standards in the EU countries. "Georgia has a very ambitious strategy for the development of the social protection system, which is aimed at helping the Georgian population to ensure and develop social rights and benefits. Drawing on various experiences of EU member states, the ministry seeks to bring Georgia's social protection system in line with best European practices and standards .... Congratulations on starting this ambitious process", stressed the Head of the Representative Office of the French Development Agency (AFD) in the South Caucasus, Raphael JOZAN. Work on the Social Code should be completed in 2023.