Background information

Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) initiated and created temporary reception centres for refugees from Ukraine in the cities of Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Dobrich and Haskovo.

Those in need will be provided with free of charge information and advice on labour and social security legislation. This initiative is part of the campaign 'CITUB for Ukraine'.

Content of measure

Leaflets in Ukrainian and English on refugees' employment and social security rights are available in the reception centres.

CITUB established a crisis headquarters that will operate throughout the country through the network of regional structures of the trade union. It monitors the situation with Ukrainian refugees and responds to the need for urgent humanitarian aid in different regions. In order to provide support, CiTUB initiated a campaign (CITUB for Ukraine) with the possibility of accommodating Ukrainian refugees in its holiday base "Izvorite" in the village of Mineralni bani.

The Confederation also joined the national charity campaign of the Bulgarian Red Cross to raise funds and material aid for the victims of the war in Ukraine. CITUB calls on its members to join the campaign by donating new clothes and shoes, bed linen, warm blankets, hygiene materials, tents, lanterns, batteries and generators.

Use of measure

The capacity requested from the Coordination Centre for Reception of Refugees from Ukraine for Haskovo Region is 16 beds, available at CITUB holiday base "Izvorite" in the village of Mineralni bani. The Regional Council of the CITUB in Targovishte supported 26 people - women and children - with accommodation.

At the end of March 2022, CITUB supported 49 Ukrainians of Bulgarian origin. They were accommodated in a hotel in Albena. The women also have the opportunity to have employment in CITUB Black Sea complex.

There is no public information how many Ukrainians have used the information and consultation of the temporary reception centres.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Trade unions	Trade union

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	No involvement
Form	Unknown	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only trade unions
• Main level of involvement: Regional or local level

Involvement

CITUB initiated the national humanitarian initiative, called 'CITUB for Ukraine', collecting financial and humanitarian aid, supporting Ukrainians with accommodation. Also with temporary reception centres in five cities CITUB provided labour law information and consultation for Ukrainians. This initiative also includes crisis centre in CITUB which coordinates the humanitarian initiative.

Views and reactions

There is no public information about the views of social partners of CITUB initiative. National and regional media popularised the creation of reception centres as well as the humanitarian campaign. The campaign is functioning trough regional CITUB offices in the country.

According to an expert of CITUB, a quick integration of refugees in the Bulgarian labour market is not possible. One of the reasons is demographic profile of the Ukrainians: children and women. The employers need to take into account not only jobs, but education, skills, accommodation of Ukrainians, respectively.

Sources

• 15 March 2022: CITUB for Ukraine charity event collects donations for refugees in Bulgaria (knsb-bg.org)
• 16 March 2022: Dr. Todor Kapitanov, CITUB: We cannot talk about quick integration of refugees into the labour market (bnr.bg)
• 04 April 2022: The CITUB for Ukraine campaign provided material assistance to refugees in Albena (knsb-bg.org)
• 04 April 2022: CITUB opens temporary receptions for refugees from Ukraine in five cities (knsb-bg.org)
• 01 July 2022: CITUB in Varna participates in organizing a job fair for refugees (knsb-bg.org)