03.05.2023

OVER 14,400 UNEMPLOYED AND INACTIVE PERSONS CAN START WORK UNDER COMPONENT 3 "EMPLOYMENT" OF THE "STARTING A JOB" MEASURE OF THE HRDP

Over 14,400 unemployed and inactive Bulgarian citizens can start work under Component 3 "Employment" of the "Starting a job" measure of the Human Resources Development Program. The component is open for application by the HRDP Managing Authority, the Employment Agency being an eligible candidate. The budget of Component 3 is BGN 224 million, co-financed by the European Union. Over BGN 206 million will be directed to the implementation of projects in underdeveloped regions, and over BGN 17.7 million will be directed to regions in transition.

Inactive and unemployed participants will be included in the activities under Component 3, with 14,400 people expected to have a job upon leaving the operation, including as self-employed. Unemployed and inactive persons can be included in employment with employers from all economic sectors, with the exception of "Agriculture, forestry and fisheries", "Activities of households as employers; Undifferentiated activities of households in the production of goods and services for own consumption' and 'Activities of extraterritorial organizations and services'. Municipalities and municipal enterprises are also eligible employers.

With Component 3 "Employment" the inclusion of inactive and unemployed people in employment will be ensured, and the period of subsidized employment will depend on the hiring of employees from the relevant target group. For the unemployed and inactive persons, subsidized employment will be provided for a period of up to 6 months. For unemployed and inactive disadvantaged participants, employment support will be for a period of up to 12 months. Unemployed and inactive people with permanent disabilities and degree of disability 75 and above 75% will be able to be appointed under the project for a period of up to 24 months. All participants in the measure will be informed and consulted for inclusion in employment applying an individual approach.

After the end of the project, the employers should keep the employment of at least half of the appointed employees for a period of 50% of the period of the subsidized employment. Employers will have an obligation to keep the employment of at least half of the employed participants with permanent disabilities for no less than 3 months. Employers who retain the appointed employees after the project ends will receive a one-time quarterly incentive.