20.01.2022
ARE THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS AT HOME BEING VIOLATED?
The Labor Inspectorate is starting inspections for violations at the home office. From there, they will monitor compliance with labor rules and work schedules for employees who work from home.
Empty offices have become a common sight in the last two years in many companies. In recent months, the Labor Inspectorate has reported a slight increase in complaints and inquiries from employees working remotely.
Most often they are related to the provision of machinery, equipment and consumables, as well as working hours or possible risks in the "home office" mode. That's why inspectors are tightening controls.
Initially, the GLI will send online questionnaires to employers related to the regime and working conditions. And then they will check for compliance with the rules on the ground - incl. and in the homes of employees.
20.01.2022
UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE THREE NORTHWESTERN DISTRICTS IN BULGARIA IS DECLINING
Unemployment in the three northwestern districts of Montana, Vidin and Vratsa decreased in December 2021 and currently stands at 11.3 percent, according to the Montana Regional Employment Service.
In Vidin district for the last month of the year the decrease in unemployment was 0.9 percent, in Vratsa district - 2.3 percent and in Montana district - 1.8 percent.
The highest unemployment was registered in the municipalities of Ruzhintsi - 49.6 percent, Yakimovo - 41.45 percent, Dimovo - 39.0 percent, Hayredin - 36.3 percent, etc., and the lowest in the municipalities of Vratsa - 3.6 percent, Montana - 4.0 percent, Mezdra - 4.2 percent, Vidin - 5.55 percent, Berkovitsa - 6.8 percent, etc.
In December, 1,351 unemployed people started working in the three districts, of which 548 - in Vratsa district, 472 - in Montana district, and 331 - in Vidin district. 531 people are included in training and employment programs in the region during the month, the Montana Regional Employment Service said.
20.01.2022
AN INNOVATIVE ONLINE FORUM INTRODUCES CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO THE PROFESSIONS OF THE FUTURE
An innovative format of a career event is presented by Schneider Electric Bulgaria. The online forum "Smart professions for a smart future" is a family event designed for children between 1st and 4th grade and their parents, for students in junior high school and over 7th grade of specialized schools, students, as well as for engineers and teachers. available for live viewing on Saturday, January 22, and is completely free with pre-registration here: to the forum.
The company, a leader in the digitalization of energy management and automation, announced its plans to invest annually part of its marketing budget, as well as constant efforts by its team especially in promoting engineering professions in our country. The Smart Professions for a Smart Future initiative is also part of Schneider Electric's employer responsibility development activities.
"Dual education and business with universities are very important elements in the development of the professional environment and the preparation of young people for the professions of the future," said Elena Vatrachka, Human Resources Director at Schneider Electric Bulgaria. "At the same time, we want to ignite interest in technology disciplines even from an early age and allow young people and children to peek into the world of professionals long before the time comes to join it," she added.
In the first panel "New Generation - New Skills" the youngest participants will meet with famous influencers. The second panel is dedicated to "Professions of the future. What do we want to be or should we be?” In the panel "Smart factory, smart buildings, smart future" the industry leaders from the Schneider Electric team present the concept of factories, buildings and cities of the future and the company's solutions in these directions. The fourth panel is entitled "Life is work or work is life?" He emphasizes good practices for balancing personal and professional life. During the last panel, participants can participate in two practical workshops: "Machine learning and artificial intelligence - real factory examples" and "What to do and what NOT to do during an interview."
The whole program of the forum "Smart professions for a smart future", as well as the registration form can be seen here.
19.01.2022
BANKS WARN OF NEW FRAUD
The Association of Banks in Bulgaria warns of a new fraud. They advise if you receive a call or email from someone posing as a bank employee:
Do not share personal and bank data, do not install applications and do not open links that have been sent to you by these persons! Do not make payments and do not share received codes for identification and access to your electronic banking! It's a scam.
Attempts at this type of phone scam are becoming more common. People who introduce themselves as bank employees over the phone aim to mislead bank customers and make them take various actions to gain access to their funds.
Most often, under a different pretext, for example, for security issues, they try to obtain sensitive information about usernames, passwords, bank card numbers, account availability and other data.
Never provide sensitive information and identification data to others. Your bank will never ask you to provide such information by phone or email. Bank employees will never make you install remote access applications and try to gain control of your mobile device or computer.
If you receive such a call, be aware that this is an attempted fraud by individuals posing as bank employees to gain access to your funds. Be vigilant and especially suspicious of calls from numbers from abroad, as well as to persons posing as bank employees whom you do not know and/or with whom you do not have a contractual relationship. Often, fraudsters do not have complete information and guess the bank you are a customer of in an attempt to deceive you.
Also, never enter your electronic banking from links you have received by email, SMS or banner ads on the Internet, but only from the official website of your bank and the official mobile application.
If you receive such a phone call, contact your bank and police immediately.
19.01.2022
NEW RULES FOR ENTERING BULGARIA
As of today, new rules for entering the country are in force for countries in the red zone.
In order not to fall into quarantine, those coming to our country will have to present 2 documents. These are a green certificate and a negative PCR test. It must be done within 72 hours before entering Bulgaria. This is ordered by the Minister of Health with his order. It was released yesterday. Among the countries in the red zone are neighboring Serbia, Turkey and Northern Macedonia. As of January 20th (Friday), the "red zone" includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, the Republic of Maldives, Fiji, the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The order reflects the recommendations and proposals made by the tourism sector. However, the tourism industry has expressed concern about these restrictions in the height of the winter season.
And children in the age group 12-18 years, who arrive in Bulgaria from a country in the red zone, will be admitted after a negative PCR test. If such a document is not presented, the children are placed under a 10-day quarantine. Until now, children (12-18 years old) arriving from the red zone were required to provide a negative test result when entering Bulgaria. In addition, they had to show a document for vaccination or illness. Children under the age of 12 are not required to submit COVID-19 documents, regardless of their country of origin.
19.01.2022
UNEMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER WAS 4.8%
The registered unemployment in the country remains at a record low level and in December - 4.8%, according to the data from the administrative statistics of the Employment Agency for the month. The decline on an annual basis is by 1.9 percentage points.
The registered unemployed in the last month of 2021 were 157,283, which is 964 less than in November and 63,009 or 28.6% less than a year earlier. In December, 21,505 new unemployed people registered with the labor offices, which is 3,145 people less than in the previous month, and compared to December 2020 there was a decrease of 11,102 people. Another 400 people from the groups of jobseekers, students and retirees also registered with the Employment Agency during the month.
In December, 14,167 unemployed people started working. The data from the administrative statistics of the Employment Agency report an increase in their number by 1,036 compared to November and by 1,914 compared to the same month last year. Another 125 people from the groups of pensioners, students and employees have found their new jobs through the employment offices.
The distribution of the unemployed who started work by sectors of the economy is as follows: 59.6% of those who started working in December are employed in the real economy, most of them employed in the general government sector - 17.9%, followed by manufacturing - 17.0%, trade - 16.0%, hotels and restaurants - 8.0%, construction - 4.2%, administrative and support service activities - 4.0% and others.
5,717 unemployed persons from the risk groups were employed in subsidized jobs during the month - 2,956 under employment programs and measures and 2,761 - under schemes of the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" (OP HRD). The scheme "Employment for you" under OP HRD, which started in July 2020 as an anti-crisis measure, has provided employment to over 43,000 unemployed people, and only in December employment contracts were concluded with 2,201 unemployed people.
The provision of funds under the already well-known anti-crisis measure 60/40, the validity of which was extended until the end of 2021 by the Council of Ministers № 322/07.10.2021, continues. Thus, from 12.10.2021, when the new procedure starts, ensure that the employment of more than 105,000 employees is maintained.
The declared jobs on the primary labor market in December were 7,967 or 2,142 less than the previous month and 395 more compared to the same month in 2020, which is typical for the autumn-winter season. The largest share of vacancies in the real economy are in the manufacturing industry (34.3%), followed by trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (13.5%), administrative and support service activities (8.9%), hotels and restaurants (7.6%), public administration (6.8%), education (5.7%).
The most sought-after professions in business during the month are: machine operators of stationary machines and equipment; sellers; skilled workers in the production of food, clothing, wood products and related; workers in the mining and processing industry, construction and transport; security and protection personnel; personnel employed in the field of personal services; staff caring for people; metallurgists, machine builders and related craftsmen; economic and administrative specialists; waste collection and related workers, etc.
19.01.2022
LACK OF BUDGET BLOCKED FOOD VOUCHERS IN JANUARY
The lack of a voted budget for 2022 blocked the distribution of food vouchers in companies at the beginning of the year. This is clear from the explanations of the Ministry of Finance, published on Monday on its website. In them, the agency asks the companies-operators of vouchers, employers and workers to act with understanding and patience in this unusual situation.
Food vouchers that employers distribute to their employees are exempt from taxes (corporate and income) and social security, and each year the state budget law establishes an annual quota of the amount that can be provided in the form of vouchers. This quota is distributed among the licensed operators by order of the Minister of Finance, who then provide the vouchers to the companies that have concluded contracts with them.
"Currently, there is no law on the state budget for 2022, so there is no general annual quota for food vouchers. In practice, there is currently no legal basis for processing applications for individual quotas," say from the finance ministry.
The bill extending the validity of last year's budget until March 31, 2022 has not yet been adopted. The bill was voted only at first reading in plenary, to be considered at second reading by the Budget Committee this week. Only after its final adoption will the Minister of Finance start accepting applications from food voucher operators. In 2021, the quota was initially BGN 350 million, but with the update in September it was increased to BGN 390 million. Then the monthly ceiling for food vouchers that can be received by one employee was increased - from BGN 60 to BGN 80.
The Association of Food Voucher Operators in Bulgaria (AFVO) explains that for the first three months of 2022, after the extension of last year's budget is announced, they will be able to apply for 1/12 of the updated quota from 2021 with a monthly ceiling of BGN 80. They have received an assurance from the Ministry of Finance that there will be no damaged companies and workers due to the delay and the vouchers for January will be able to be distributed retroactively together with those for February.
The Minister of Finance Asen Vasilev has already announced that in 2022 he is considering significantly increasing the monthly amount that can be given to the salary in the form of vouchers - from BGN 80 to BGN 200. In addition, the government intends to allow them to buys not only food, but also to pay for utilities. The AFVO explained that negotiations are underway with vouchers to pay bills for electricity, gas, water and heating.
Employers' organizations and the tourism business are also pushing for vouchers to be extended to pay for hotel accommodation and restaurant food.
The Ministry of Finance has planned to increase the annual quota for vouchers to BGN 480 million in the 2022 Budget, BIA said. But if the monthly ceiling becomes BGN 200, this quota will be insufficient, business representatives estimate. Traditionally, the quota is exhausted every year until the beginning of autumn. Last year, even after the update in September, the limit was reached in mid-November. For years, businesses have been calling on the government to abolish the annual quota on the grounds that it does not exist in other EU countries and that these are light costs, which will certainly include VAT in the treasury. However, the position of the Ministry of Finance has always been that there should be predictability for the money that will not be taxed.
17.01.2022
UBB LAUNCHES BUSINESS LOANS FOR FREELANCERS
United Bulgarian Bank (UBB), part of the Belgian financial group KBC, is launching a full product portfolio of credit instruments specifically designed for freelancers. Package services for professionals - individuals or registered by them ST/companies include working capital loan with guarantee instruments, investment loans and overdraft.
The working capital loan is launched under relaxed collateral conditions when using guarantee instruments. Business clients can receive up to BGN 150,000 financing without material security. The product has a fast approval procedure, without the need to submit supporting documents for use, competitive price conditions and long repayment period.
Investment loans for freelance business clients have a long term of receivables and are for the purchase, construction and repair of real estate. The expert assessment of the collateral for the purchase of movable assets is free of charge and customers receive the opportunity to use a VAT credit line, explained the financial institution, which was reported by BTA.
17.01.2022
THE FIRST ROMA TELEVISION IN BULGARIA STARTS
On the day when we celebrate the Roma New Year - Bango Vasil, the first Roma television in Bulgaria started in Teteven.
"Our news will be from 6 pm. We will collect stories all day and tell them in the evening," said Biser Petkov, manager of Pronet.media TV.
17.01.2022
MOODY'S LOWERS ITS EXPECTATIONS FOR RETAIL IN 2022
Moody's lowered its expectations for retail in 2022 after strong growth in 2020 and 2021. The rating agency revised its forecast for the industry and gave it a "stable" outlook.
Analysts from the rating agency estimate the total revenue growth of 3.9% and the increase in operating profit of 2.3% in the entire industry in 2022, writes the online media Retail Dive. By comparison, expectations for 2021 are a 30% jump in operating income.
Moody's analysts say the strong growth of the past two years "will be much harder to achieve due to growing challenges, including the omicron variant of coronavirus, supply constraints, labor shortages and rising investment costs."
Just as 2021 was destined to be a much better year than 2020, tremendous demand growth cannot go on indefinitely.
The increase in demand this year was so sudden and so powerful that it blocked much of the global supply chain. After ocean carriers stopped ships due to stagnation in 2020, many shippers this year cannot find containers and have to pay extra.
Ports around the world are also operating at maximum capacity, as are trucks and air freight.
The continued proliferation of COVID-19 at key points in the supply chain and labor shortages add to the problems.
All of the above is combined to push the supply of goods in general, fueling inflation.
"The increase in margins in 2021 was supported by lower inventory levels, which encouraged a more favorable promotional environment and higher prices," said Moody's analysts. "Retailers are now struggling with a shortage of certain key inputs. This is worsening the availability of the final product, increasing costs and reducing the ability of retailers to meet consumer demand," the analysis said.
This pressure, as well as the natural leveling of demand, will normalize the situation for retailers next year, according to Moody's.
Wider penetration of coronavirus vaccines and revaccinations may also alter consumer dynamics.
Delayed demand for goods and services, which we saw in 2021, is also likely to subside as consumers increase their mobility and are likely to shift more spending to travel and entertainment, the Moody's report added.
