26.01.2022
THE "FROM BULGARIA" PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF SMALL LOCAL PRODUCERS
E-commerce is one of the fastest growing sectors and a chance for many businesses affected by the pandemic not only to stabilize, but also to develop and grow by entering new markets.
According to data from the Bulgarian E-Commerce Association from 2021, over 47% of Bulgarian consumers have shopped online, and 88% of them have done so from local retailers. At the same time, the maintenance of an online store requires significant resources and investments - for development, integration of payment methods, marketing and security.
In support of this, at the end of last year eMAG launched the program "From Bulgaria", which offers small local producers access to one of the largest channels for online trade in our country by launching their products for sale in the eMAG Marketplace. In this way, Bulgarian producers, craftsmen and NGOs meeting certain criteria are given the opportunity to use a modern sales channel, such as e-commerce, which offers market entry with over one million potential customers on the platform online.
"The marketplace model is an excellent opportunity for small local producers to take advantage of a developed, efficient and modern online sales channel, with serious experience and resources at their disposal. Over the next three years, eMAG at the group level will invest over € 50 million in technology, international market development and human resources on the platform. At the same time, investing in the local economy is important to us - our support for small producers and craft traditions will create increased demand and new jobs, and for local communities the effect of the program will be long-lasting and sustainable," said Razvan Blanita, director of eMAG Marketplace Bulgaria.
In "From Bulgaria" small producers, non-governmental organizations with self-financed production activities and craft sole proprietors can join and benefit from the program - regardless of their field of activity, except for the food industry. Their turnover, registered in the last fiscal year, should not exceed BGN 150,000.
The company's expectations are that five years after the launch of "From Bulgaria" the small producers registered in the program will have realized through the platform total sales amounting to BGN 14.2 million. Traders wishing to sell through the eMAG Marketplace within the initiative must produce in Bulgaria, in accordance with all legal rules and regulations, and their products may include handicrafts made in small batches.
To make them easier for customers to recognize, the products in the program will be marked on the website and in the mobile application of eMAG with the label "From Bulgaria".
25.01.2022
VALIDITY OF CERTIFICATES WHEN TRAVELING IN THE EU FROM 1 FEBRUARY
The European digital Covid vaccination certificates for 93,000 Bulgarian citizens, whose vaccination course was completed more than 270 days ago on February 1, will not be valid for travel to the European Union, reminded by the Ministry of Health.
The reason is that from 1 February 2022, all EU digital Covid certificates issued proving a completed vaccination course will be valid for 270 days from the date of the last dose.
The Ministry of Health points out that when a booster dose is given, the vaccination certificate is not limited in validity.
The Italian authorities have reduced the validity of the certificate to 6 months, which will also apply to those who have received a booster dose of vaccine. The rule comes into force in Italy on February 1.
However, England eased Covid travel measures.
The Council of the EU announced today that it has adopted a recommendation amending the rules on travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Council recommends that, from 1 February, the restrictions be based on the passenger and not on the place from which he arrives. It is envisaged that anyone with a valid certificate will be allowed to cross the border without additional conditions.
It is recommended that the validity of the certificates for the vaccinated be 270 days, for the sick - 180 days, and for the tested - up to 72 hours from the sampling.
Non-certified passengers may be required to be tested immediately before travel or up to 24 hours after arrival. The Council of the EU proposes that the general rules should not apply to frontier workers, important travelers and children under 12 years of age.
It is envisaged that all these proposals will apply to travel from countries that do not fall into the so-called dark red zone, where the spread of the disease is high. Today, for the fourth time, the EU Council issued general recommendations on freedom of travel since the beginning of the pandemic.
25.01.2022
MH: PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SICK LEAVE IF THEIR CHILDREN ARE UNDER QUARANTINE
In connection with the increased incidence of coronavirus in children, the Ministry of Health clarifies that parents of children returned from school or kindergarten due to quarantine are entitled to a sick leave.
And more - the parents of students under 14 who do not attend school due to the anti-epidemic restrictions, are entitled to monthly targeted assistance. The allowance for families with one child is BGN 650, and for families with two or more children BGN 975.
Parents can apply for it if they are on unpaid leave because they cannot work remotely, do not have the opportunity to use paid leave and are not on sick leave.
Another condition for granting the aid is that the average income of a family member is lower than or equal to 150% of the minimum wage, which is equal to BGN 975.
In order to receive assistance from the state, the income of a family with one child must not exceed BGN 2,925, and the income of a family with two children must not exceed BGN 3,900.
24.01.2022
2.5% INTEREST FOR INVESTMENT LOANS IN AGRICULTURE
The management board of the state fund "Agriculture" reaffirmed the annual interest rate of 2.5 percent for the investment loans granted directly by the fund for 2022, they announced.
From 2002 to the beginning of 2014, the annual interest rate on loans was 6 percent. Since 2014, the interest rate has been reduced to 5 percent, and in 2016 - to 4 percent. In 2019 and 2020, the interest rate applied to loans was 3 percent, and in 2021 - 2.5 percent.
Applicants under the Credit Scheme for Investments in Agriculture and the Scheme for Lending to Persons with Approved Projects under the National Beekeeping Program 2020-2022 can take advantage of the relaxed interest conditions.
24.01.2022
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE BEING RAISED
The minimum daily amount of unemployment benefits to increase from BGN 12 to BGN 15 from April 1 this year. This is provided by the draft budget for this year.
The Draft of the updated medium-term budget forecast for the period 2022-2024 states that the increase in the money of the unemployed will cost BGN 10.8 million.
From April 1, 2022, it is planned to increase the amount of monthly allowances for raising a child until the completion of secondary education, but not more than 20 years of age, respectively: for families with one child - by BGN 10 (from BGN 40) for families with two children - by BGN 20 (from BGN 90 to BGN 110), for families with three children - by BGN 30 (from BGN 135 to BGN 165) and for families with four children - by BGN 30 (from BGN 145 to BGN 175).
For this purpose, it is planned to increase the income criterion, respectively from BGN 410 to BGN 510 per household member to receive the full amount of assistance.
To receive 80 percent of the amount, the income of a family member changes from BGN 410.01 to BGN 510 to BGN 510.01 to BGN 610.
The maximum insurance income is increased from BGN 3,000 to BGN 3,400 as of April 1, 2022, as well as the minimum insurance income for farmers and tobacco producers from BGN 420 to BGN 710, and the minimum insurance income for self-insured persons is raised from BGN 650 to BGN 710, which is expected to be the minimum wage.
21.01.2022
FOOD VOUCHERS ARE GIVEN ONLY IN CERTAIN CASES
One of the benefits that employers offer to workers outside their salary is the so-called food vouchers. They are certainly quite tempting for both workers and those who are just choosing where to start work.
The topic of food vouchers is one of the most discussed, because workers in different places compare these benefits and if they do not have them, there is dissatisfaction in them, which reflects on the employer. Another such sensitive topic is that of work and representative clothing, which topics we will explain soon in a special article on the subject.
It is extremely important when choosing a new job to look carefully at how the salary is announced. In order to make the proposal more attractive, it is common practice to declare the salary as the sum of the salary itself and other financially measurable benefits.
Let us clarify at the outset that wages are the main reward for employees. Accordingly, there is an opportunity to add other, additional incentives for the employee, such as bonuses in the form of food vouchers and other types of purchases, various forms of private health insurance and others paid by the employer.
Should monthly food vouchers be issued in each company, should they be paid when we are on leave?
As it turned out, food funds provided to employees by the employer in the form of food vouchers are not an element of their remuneration. Therefore, they are not the basis for calculating benefits in the event of termination of employment.
Food vouchers are provided under conditions agreed between the employer and the representative(s) of the employees and/or the representative(s) of the nationally represented trade unions in the enterprise.
The food vouchers provided are a means of exchange, through which users receive food and food products for the nominal value of the vouchers in restaurants, fast food restaurants and food outlets, including grocery stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, etc., operating in accordance with the requirements of the Food Act.
The provision of food vouchers can be done with the means of social and cultural services to employees, as food vouchers are social benefits provided in kind to employees when they are provided in the order and manner specified in the law.
Vouchers may be granted only for the days on which the employees actually worked, if this is explicitly stated in the decision of the general meeting of employees. Upon termination of the employment relationship or the management contract, anyone who has received food vouchers is obliged to return the unused vouchers to the employer. The employer does not owe food vouchers for the period from the date of dismissal to the date of reinstatement of the person at work.
Reference:
Art. 2, para. 1 and art. 14 of Ordinance № 7 of 9.07.2003 for the conditions and the period for issuing and revoking the decision to carry out the activity as a food voucher operator and to carry out the activity as an operator
Art. 293 of the LC
Art. 294 of the LC
21.01.2022
THE EMPLOYER MUST ALSO PROVIDE WORKING CONDITIONS AT THE HOME OFFICE
It is the employer's responsibility to provide the work environment - both in the factory, workshop or office, and at home. If he fails to do so, the employee may request an inspection. This was commented by the National Secretary of CITUB Todor Kapitanov in connection with information that the GLI is starting inspections for violations in the work of the home office.
Initially, online questionnaires will be sent to employers related to the regime and working conditions. They will then check for compliance with the rules in the field - including in the homes of employees.
"When your home is a workplace, a domestic accident is also a work accident," Kapitanov added.
When working remotely, the employer must provide the necessary equipment for remote work, as well as consumables for its operation, software (software), technical prevention and maintenance, devices for communication with the employee working remotely, including the Internet connectivity, data protection, information and requirements for the operation of the equipment and its maintenance, as well as for the legal requirements and rules, incl. those of the enterprise in the field of data protection to be used during remote work, a monitoring system, if any, to be installed at the workplace and the written consent of the employee has been obtained, as in these In some cases, his right to privacy must be respected. They must also be provided with other technical or documentary aids in accordance with the individual and/or collective agreement.
The individual employment contract may stipulate the use of the employee's own equipment, as well as all rights and obligations arising from this, Kapitanov commented.
He recommended that conditions be agreed between the employer and the employee to prevent misuse of the equipment, internet and communication connections provided to him. As in this type of work, the employer explicitly determines the time during which the employee is obliged to be available for communication with the employer or his business partners.
The actual time worked is reflected monthly in a sample document that must be approved by the employer.
20.01.2022
HOW TO GET RID OF PHONE SCAMS? POLICE ADVICE
Do not give money and valuables after calls from strangers, no matter who they are.
This is what the police are calling for.
The call is in connection with registered new cases of telephone fraud in various districts in the country. It aims at increased attention from citizens, as well as immediate notification and seeking assistance from law enforcement.
Phone scammers are extremely resourceful. In addition to the old schemes applied over the years, new methods are used to mislead victims.
Advice to citizens:
In case you receive a call and an attempt is made against you for telephone fraud, immediately call 112 or directly to the police department.
20.01.2022
ROMANIA WITH EVEN STRICTER RESTRICTIONS ON ELECTRICITY AND GAS PRICES
Romania will impose even more severe restrictions on rising electricity and gas prices.
The current energy price ceiling will be lowered as early as February 1st, and subsidies for households and some small companies will increase, Prime Minister Nicolae Chuka said.
The government will issue an emergency decree that will limit the price of electricity to RON 0.68 per kilowatt-hour, and the ceiling on the price of natural gas will be RON 0.31 per kilowatt-hour, it became clear after a meeting of the ruling coalition.
Lowering the ceiling on the price of electricity is drastic - over 30%, as the current limit price was RON 1 per kilowatt-hour. For gas, the difference is much smaller - only RON 0.06, as it cost a maximum of RON 0.37 per kilowatt-hour.
The state will also significantly increase the threshold of energy consumption, which is charged at subsidized prices. It will now be 500 kilowatts per hour, instead of the current 300, SeeNews reports.
The new measures will run until March 31st and will cost the Romanian treasury about RON 3 billion (606m euros).
About 6 million households in the country are already benefiting from the ceiling on electricity and gas prices, and will now be joined by hospitals, schools, small businesses and some food producers.
The energy subsidies will be financed by the profits of the state energy producer Hidroelectrica and corporate taxes.
20.01.2022
ONLINE WORKSHOPS WITH POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE INTERREG VI-A ROMANIA - BULGARIA PROGRAMME
On the 17th and 18th of January 2022, two online workshops to present the draft of the Interreg VI-A Romania - Bulgaria Programme and the future financing opportunities took place.
The workshops were organized by Civitta Romania and VVA Brussels and gathered more than 140 participants, stakeholders coming from the Western and Eastern regions of the Romania - Bulgaria cross-border area.
During the events the participants found out more about the joint challenges and investment needs, the main financing priorities of the new programme as well as examples of actions. The attendees had a chance to participate in interactive breakout sessions where they discussed potential project ideas and asked questions related to specific priorities, announced the Program team.
