Marginal Groups in the Labour Market: Those Refused Unemployment Benefits

The reasons for the denial of unemployment benefits to a small but significant portion of those eligible in Hungary are investigated. Although the official explanation is that they do not cooperate properly with the Jobs Center, the actual reason in most cases (54%), as revealed by questionnaires administered to those denied benefits in Somogy County during 1990 (N = 80), is refusal to accept a job offer. Also significant is failure to appear for a scheduled appointment at the Center (28%). In turn, job offers are refused because of low salaries (sometimes below minimum wage), undesirable schedules, overtime work requirements, excessive travel time to workplace, & lack of correspondence with applicants' qualifications or health status. It is estimated that only in 20% of the cases was denial of benefits justifiable. 9 References. R. Jaramillo