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-2020-18/1440 – measures in Bulgaria
Country | Bulgaria , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 30 April 2020 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Other initiatives or policies |
Category |
Measures to prevent social hardship
– Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Author | Eva Dimitrova ( for Eurofound) |
Measure added | 18 November 2020 (updated 18 January 2022) |
The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) together with the fund 'Prof. Dr. Zhelyazko Hristov' operate a national charity campaign 'You are not alone' in support of working union members infected with the coronavirus.
The anticipated initial budget is BGN 100,000 (€50,000).
The resources are collected by donations made from several unions and organisations. Citizens and companies also have possibility to donate and support the programme.
Among others the supporting organisations are:
The project provides material assistance in the form of products, medicines, medical devices and other essential goods.
Each member of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) , who has been infected with the novel coronavirus, will receive assistance in the amount of at least BGN 150 (€75). In complicated social situations the assistance can be extended.
In addition, the Federation of Healthcare Trade Unions, for example, plans to support each of its ill members with a grant of BGN 500 (€250).
The measure is motivated by solidarity and aims to prevent social hardship.
The programme is still open and members can contact the union.
As of September 2020, the campaign supported 230 COVID-19 patients with resources, goods and services in a total amount of BGN 57,000 (€27,000), or an average of nearly BGN 250 (€125) per person.
The affected workers come from 21 different districts, 35 settlements and 59 enterprises.
So far, the federation has paid BGN 29,750 (nearly €15,000) as social assistance for sick medics from Burgas, Dobrich, Kyustendil, Montana, Nova Zagora, Pazardzhik, Pleven, Smolyan, Yambol, Sofia and Blagoevgrad.
Up to 7 July 2021 the campaign has supported over 2,500 trade union members. The total amount of allocated resource is about BGN 350,000 (€179,000).
The number of supported trade union members has gone up. Up to 8 December 2021 there are almost 3,000 trade union members that benefited from the campaign. The amount of allocated resource is above BGN 375,000 (€192,000).
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Applies to all workers | Does not apply to businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
Trade unions
Other social actors (e.g. NGOs) |
Trade union
Other |
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative | Unknown |
Form | Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
This measure has been designed and implemented by the trade unions.
CITUB calls for solidarity and calls on all its members and structures to join the charity initiative.
Citation
Eurofound (2020), COVID-19: You are not alone (CITUB), measure BG-2020-18/1440 (measures in Bulgaria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BG-2020-18_1440.html
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30 January 2023
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