The 300-GEL employment program for socially vulnerable Georgians, launched by Irakli Garibashvili and costing over GEL 300 million in four years, will be discontinued in 2026. Participants previously received monthly payments while retaining their social vulnerability status and associated benefits.
Deputy Minister of Finance Giorgi Kakauridze explained that the aim is to transition participants into the private sector rather than have the state act as their employer. “Funding for the public works employment program has been reduced following consultations with relevant ministries. Through retraining programs and targeted assistance, we aim to enable these individuals to secure private-sector employment,” Kakauridze said.
From 2022 to 2024, the program employed up to 40,000 socially vulnerable people, while social benefits reached 461,796 recipients as of October 2025. The program’s budget grew from GEL 48 million in 2022 to GEL 113 million in 2025.
In the draft 2026 budget, the allocation for the program has been reduced to GEL 21 million, signaling a shift from state-led employment to private-sector integration.
