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.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 68 measures in Bulgaria in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Supporting businesses to stay afloat with 15 cases (22%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Tsetomila Sabcheva and Luboslav Kostov (Citub) and Eurofound.
Tripartite agreements |
|
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10 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assistance for frontline workers in health care services
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
Other initiatives or policies |
18 May 2022 |
Job Dashboard and recruitment events for citizens of Ukraine
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 measure: Business tax relief
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Credit guarantees to commercial banks by Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB)
Access to finance |
15 April 2020 |
COVID-19: Loans to microenterprises
Access to finance |
17 July 2020 Updated |
Grant support for micro and small enterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
11 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Reduction of VAT for certain goods and services
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
24 September 2020 Updated |
Subsidies available to tour operators for charter flights
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
24 September 2020 |
Quasi-funds for investments
Access to finance |
24 September 2020 |
COVID-19: State aid for agriculture
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
02 July 2021 |
Fund of Funds: access to loans for recovery
Access to finance |
07 October 2021 Updated |
Recovery Programme
Access to finance |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Micro-credit Guarantee Fund
Access to finance |
23 June 2022 |
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Sources Fund
Access to finance |
Other initiatives or policies |
06 January 2021 Updated |
Capital support for SMEs - Second Phase
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
04 January 2022 |
Liquidity support for restaurateurs and hoteliers
Access to finance |
13 January 2022 |
Grant aid to bus carriers
Access to finance |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Income support for workers
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
16 July 2020 |
Measures for maintaining employment in transport and tourism
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 |
Law for guaranteeing workers' and employees' receivables in the event of employer's insolvency
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Extension of working time
Working time flexibility |
23 June 2022 |
COVID - 19: Income support for workers
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Tripartite agreements |
08 January 2021 Updated |
Supporting unpaid workers
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Company practices |
09 March 2021 |
Lidl Bulgaria with "COVID Shield" certificate
Working time flexibility |
09 March 2021 |
Kaufland Bulgaria: Care for employees
Working time flexibility |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
23 June 2022 Updated |
National Innovation Fund (NIF): Strengthen technological capacity
Change of production/innovation |
23 June 2022 |
Support for enhancement of employees and enterprise adaptability to
Change of production/innovation |
Company practices |
08 December 2020 Updated |
Foodpanda Bulgaria: Expanding services and supporting partner businesses to survive
Change of production/innovation |
09 January 2022 |
Digital services delivered by ENERGO-PRO
Change of production/innovation |
10 January 2022 |
COVID-19 prevention at Port Burgas
Change of production/innovation |
10 January 2022 |
Sofia Plus App
Change of production/innovation |
10 January 2022 |
New means of payment for energy bills
Change of production/innovation |
11 January 2022 |
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in METRO stores
Change of production/innovation |
Other initiatives or policies |
09 November 2022 |
Export Hub Bulgaria
Matching/networking |
Company practices |
|
---|---|
04 December 2020 |
Ficosota Bulgaria: Successful reorganisation of operations for safety of personnel
Occupational health and safety |
08 December 2020 |
VMware office Bulgaria: Successful adaptation of the work processes to the new business reality
Changes in work organisation |
08 December 2020 |
Lesaffre Bulgaria: Effects of the pandemic on business and changes in the way of working
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
12 January 2022 |
Limiting the risk of COVID-19 in Sofia University
Occupational health and safety |
12 January 2022 Updated |
Preventing the spread of the COVID-19 in hotel Augusta
Occupational health and safety |
12 January 2022 |
Pension payment arrangements introduced by Bulgarian Posts
Well-being of workers |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Unemployed can take seasonal work in agriculture without loss of benefits
Income support for unemployed |
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assistance for parents taking unpaid leave due to a state of emergency
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assisting artists and freelancers
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Interest-free credit guarantee programme for individuals
Preventing over-indebtedness |
05 January 2022 |
Monthly allowance to pensions
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
12 January 2022 |
New system for registration of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees
Access to healthcare |
11 April 2022 |
One-off assistance to persons displaced from Ukraine
Other humanitarian measures |
Other initiatives or policies |
18 November 2020 |
COVID-19: You are not alone (CITUB)
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
25 November 2020 Updated |
United against COVID-19: Campaign to fund projects for vulnerable people
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
25 January 2021 Updated |
"Hot lunch" program for people in need
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
12 January 2022 |
Helpline for teachers and students
Access to healthcare |
12 January 2022 |
Together Again National Program
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
16 May 2022 Updated |
Assistance for accommodation and food for persons from Ukraine
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
18 May 2022 |
Integrated Information Portal for Ukraine
Other humanitarian measures |
18 May 2022 |
Enrolment in kindergarten or school for Ukrainian children
Access to childcare and education |
30 May 2022 |
Trade union opens temporary reception centres for refugees from Ukraine
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
08 April 2021 |
Assistance in hiring the unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
16 May 2022 |
Access to the Bulgarian labour market for citizens of Ukraine
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
Encouraging micro enterprise employers to hire unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
Working Conditions Fund
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
Competence assessment system – MyCompetence
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Enhancement of employees’ adaptability and strengthening the collective
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Tripartite agreements |
16 July 2020 Updated |
Measure: 'Employment for you': subsidised employment for hiring unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
10 September 2020 Updated |
Support for medium-sized enterprises
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
Company practices |
16 May 2022 |
Lidl offers jobs and language training to Ukrainians in Bulgaria
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
18 August 2022 |
VAT decrease for bread, heating and gas
Support for energy bills |
18 August 2022 |
Recovery of SME through energy efficiency
Support for energy bills |
Other initiatives or policies |
18 August 2022 |
State aid for discount of 25 cents per litrе of fuel
Support for fuel expenses |
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. As winter approaches, preventing and addressing energy poverty becomes a priority. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound’s EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
Policies to support EU companies affected by the war in Ukraine
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.