Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure BG-2020-11/499 – Updated – measures in Bulgaria
Country | Bulgaria , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 13 March 2020 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Income protection beyond short-time work
– Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
Author | Tsetomila Sabcheva and Luboslav Kostov (Citub) |
Measure added | 12 April 2020 (updated 13 June 2023) |
Parents of children up to 12 years of age, who due to the declared state of emergency, are taking unpaid leave of at least 20 working days for childcare at home are entitled to an additional single childcare allowance. The assistance has an allocated budget of BGN 20 million (€10 million) allocated. This financial assistance can reach approximately 55,000 families, according to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy. The one-time assistance amounts 375 BGN (approx. €200).
The monthly income of a family member for the month preceding the use of unpaid leave can not exceed BGN 610 (€305) (minimum working salary for 2020).
The family aid, which amounts to BGN 375 (approx. €200), is granted if:
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
24 March 2021 |
Another BGN 52 million has been allocated to support families with children under 14, whose parents have had to stay at home and take care of their children while schools, nurseries and kindergartens are closed due to the pandemic. The total funds for this measure increase to BGN 73 million. With the previous transfer of funds for the measure, more than 41,000 families were supported. The benefit is paid in proportion to the days of unpaid leave, as the amount for one month is BGN 650 for families with one child and BGN 975 for families with two or more children. |
04 May 2020 |
In May 2020, the Social Ministry included parents of students who have reached the age of 14, as well as families in which one or both parents have lost their jobs but are not entitled to unemployment benefits, in the one-time benefit programme of BGN 375 (€190) per family. The one-time allowance will be paid to families who have not received assistance on the same grounds in 2020. Applicants must not have income from a second employment contract, rent, lease and others. |
Between 13 April 2020 and 30 May 2020, 5,231 family applications were submitted. However, only nearly 2,000 families or fewer than the half who applied for the allowance since COVID-19 outbreak, were approved for state aid. The cabinet expected about 55,000 families and single parents to benefit from the measure.
According to the media, the measure does not have much coverage due to the strict conditions set for its receipt. The measure requires that both parents have exhausted their paid leave and have accumulated at least 20 days of unpaid leave between them. This was almost impossible in the first month of the state of emergency. The amount also barely covers the poverty line for one person of BGN 363 (€180) for 2020, although it is intended for the whole family.
As of the 22 January 2021, €15 million have been paid. This amount is more than the initial funds provided for under the measure, due to increased interest and necessity. 48,000 applications have been submitted, which is close to the expectations of the ministry, and the applications will continue after the state of emergency in Bulgaria is extended. Of these, 36,118 have been approved for funding. The parents in the districts of Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Sofia and Ruse received the most funds.
According to the Integrated Information portal BGN 75,7 million were paid since September 2021 in order to support 53,294 families.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Parents in employment
Single parents in employment |
Does not apply to businesses |
Children (minors)
|
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
|
National funds
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Consulted | Consulted |
Form | Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies | Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
No information available.
No information available.
Citation
Eurofound (2020), COVID-19: Assistance for parents taking unpaid leave due to a state of emergency, measure BG-2020-11/499 (measures in Bulgaria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BG-2020-11_499.html
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