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-2022-9/2281 – measures in Bulgaria
Country | Bulgaria , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 24 February 2022 |
Context | War in Ukraine |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
– Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Author | Ekaterina Markova (IPS-BAS) |
Measure added | 16 May 2022 (updated 20 June 2022) |
Ukrainians and their family members who have registration for temporary protection, asylum or international protection in Bulgaria have the right to work in the country without a labour market access permit.
Temporary protection is introduced for a period of one year starting from 24 February 2022 and may be extended if necessary. Persons displaced from Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 as a result of military invasion by Russian armed forces are eligible for temporary protection.
Persons from Ukraine who have obtained "temporary protection" / with a nationality permit / can be employed on temporary and permanent contracts.
Ukrainian citizens registered with temporary protection could work in Bulgaria without a necessity to apply for work permit. They could be register as jobseekers at the labour office at their permanent or current address and could benefit from employment and vocational training services. Citizens of Ukraine can access the Bulgarian labour market under simplified procedures:
Until 12 May 2022, more than 20,000 Ukrainians have been consulted by the Bulgarian labour offices about opportunities to start working in Bulgaria and 2,400 Ukrainians with temporary protection status have started working with an employment contract.
On 13 May 2022, the Employment Agency launched a national information campaign for Bulgarian and foreign citizens, including those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine who reside in Bulgaria. The campaign under the title "To work in BG" takes place within three weeks and will provide an opportunity for intensive information, counselling and activation of those living in Bulgaria to look for work and use the services of the job centres.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Applies to all workers | Applies to all businesses |
Migrants or refugees
|
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Company / Companies Public employment service |
National funds
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative | Consulted |
Form | Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal | Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
The Regional Council for Tripartite Cooperation with the participation of the Bulgarian Red Cross and the Regional Employment Service together with trade union CL Podkrepa in Plovdiv raised the question for possibilities for shelter, finding a job and humanitarian aid for refugees and stated that they will present their own plan of action and coordination due to the forthcoming wave of emigrants from Ukraine to Bulgaria.
Trade union CITUB created temporary reception centres for citizens of 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.
The president of the Confederation of Labour "Podkrepa" Dimitar Manolov outlined the war in Ukraine, inflation and the energy crisis as the biggest challenges.
The Bulgarian Association for People Management (BAPM), which is the only professional organization of human resources professionals in Bulgaria, support the efforts of government and business organizations to facilitate the access of refugees from Ukraine to the labour market. The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) has created temporary reception centres for refugees from Ukraine, providing consultation about the labour rights and job opportunities in Bulgaria.
Citation
Eurofound (2022), Access to the Bulgarian labour market for citizens of Ukraine, measure BG-2022-9/2281 (measures in Bulgaria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BG-2022-9_2281.html
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