Background information

Ukrainians who are registered 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 status will be in place for a period of one year starting from 24 February 2022 and may be extended if necessary. People displaced from Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 are eligible for temporary protection.

Content of measure

Ukrainian citizens registered with temporary protection can work in Bulgaria without a work permit. They can register as jobseekers at the labour office at their permanent or current address and can benefit from employment and vocational training services. Citizens of Ukraine can access the Bulgarian labour market under simplified procedures:

• Ukrainian citizens who have Bulgarian origin can start working immediately (before having residence permit) by registering at the Employment Agency. They must have a work contract with a local employer for a minimum period of six months.
• Ukrainian citizens can start seasonal employment for up to 90 days in agricultural, forestry, fishery, hotel and restaurant sectors in Bulgaria for 12 months without interruption. In order to start such seasonal employment, Ukrainian citizens need to be registered with the Employment Agency on the basis of a declaration submitted by the employer.
• Ukrainian citizens who have applied for international protection and whose procedure has not been completed within three months of application are entitled to work in Bulgaria without work permit. The declaration of employment of Ukrainians in these cases is made by the local employer who hired them under an employment contract.
• Ukrainians who have asylum or international protection in Bulgaria are entitled to work in Bulgaria without a labour market permit. People who have refugee or humanitarian status can register as jobseekers at the Labour Office at their permanent or current address.

Within the framework of the project, a representative of the target group can be employed only once for a period of up to six months, and accordingly the funds for wages of the employed persons are eligible for a period of up to six months, and those for integration supplement, mentor(s) and incentives for a period of up to three months.

The employment (subsidised and unsubsidised) should be implemented until 31 July 2023.

Use of measure

Until 12 May 2022 more than 20,000 Ukrainians have been offered consultation by the Bulgarian labour offices about opportunities for work 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" 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.

According to the Report on Action Plan in 2021 by Employment Agency, the Labour Office Directorates (LOD) informs and advises employers on hiring Ukrainian citizens. By 31 December 2022 3,068 employers had received services for hiring Ukrainian citizens.

4,428 applications have been submitted for 15,725 job vacancies, including for Ukrainians. 17,885 Ukrainian citizens benefiting from temporary protection status were assisted by labour intermediaries for information and counselling on job opportunities in Bulgaria and the announced vacancies. Around 2,300 Ukrainian residents have found jobs, with around 500 active contracts signed with employers up to 6 May 2023.

From 3 June 2022 to 31 December 2022, 3,802 Ukrainian citizens have been registered in the State Migration Office, including 3,469 beneficiaries of the temporary protection status. As of 31 December 2022, 379 Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection are actively registered in the labour offices, and 3,725 Ukrainian citizens have started working through the Labour Office Directorates. (The number of those who have started working is higher than the total number of those registered with the LOD, as the registration of persons granted temporary protection was only possible from 3 June 2022 - after the change of the Law on temporary protection).

The project is of interest to hoteliers and restaurateurs; representatives of the transport sector; the retail sector.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies Public employment service	National funds

Social partners

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:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Regional or local level

Involvement

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.

Views and reactions

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 labour rights and job opportunities in Bulgaria.

Sources

• 14 February 2022: Достъп до пазара на труда за граждани на Украйна (ukraine.gov.bg)
• 28 February 2022: Синдикати искат спешно обсъждане на възможностите за оказване на помощ на бежанците от Украйна (darik.bg)
• 03 March 2022: UABM opinion on facilitating the access of refugees from Ukraine to the labor market in Bulgaria (www.bapm.space)
• 09 March 2022: CITUB opens temporary receptions for refugees from Ukraine in five cities (knsb-bg.org)
• 15 March 2022: Issuance of Temporary Protection (ukraine.gov.bg)
• 01 May 2022: Синдикатите: Работното време, заплатите и енергийната криза са големите предизвикателства (bnr.bg)
• 09 May 2022: Employment for persons with Bulgarian origin (www.az.government.bg)
• 12 May 2022: 2,400 Ukrainians have started working with an employment contract in Bulgaria (www.investor.bg)
• 27 May 2022: BG05M9OP001-6.006 "Solidarity" (www.az.government.bg)
• 31 December 2022: Report on Action Plan on Employment, Employment Agency 2022 (www.az.government.bg)
• 27 March 2023: Solidarity Extended (www.az.government.bg)
• 06 April 2023: How long will the "Solidarity" program for Ukrainian refugees last? (www.investor.bg)
• 17 May 2023: Solidarity (www.az.government.bg)