25.10.2021
THE RESOURCE FOR TRAININGS FOR DIGITAL SKILLS UNDER HRDP HAS BEEN INCREASED (2021-2027)
The resource provided for trainings for acquisition and improvement of digital skills under the Human Resources Development Program (2021-2027) has been increased. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Ivan Krastev during a meeting of the Thematic Working Group for Development of HRDP and the Program for Food and Basic Material Assistance for the programming period 2021-2027. The resource that will be focused on training for digital skills, amounts to nearly BGN 400 million. "We are approaching the wishes of the social partners to ensure a digital transition in which no one will be abandoned," said the Deputy Minister. He reminded that the National Plan for Recovery and Sustainability envisages an ambitious volume of activities, as over BGN 350 million will be directed to trainings for acquiring basic competencies in digital behavior.
The total budget of the HRDP (2021-2027) is BGN 3.8 billion. For various measures related to youth employment, nearly BGN 680 million will be directed. The access of unemployed and inactive people will be facilitated by operations whose budget for the coming years is over BGN 678 million. Nearly BGN 1.4 billion have been allocated for social inclusion, and the measures include the deinstitutionalization of care for the elderly in Bulgaria and ensuring affordable social services for vulnerable groups.
More than 55,000 members of marginalized communities, such as the Roma, are expected to be covered by various measures to comprehensively support equality, inclusion and participation in education and employment, as well as access to housing and health care. The budget for measures for integration of marginalized communities amounts to BGN 187 million.
Caring for children in need is another important priority in the implementation of the HRDP (2021-2027). By participating in the implementation of the European Child Guarantee, more than 41,000 children will be included in services for early childhood development, access to healthcare and adequate housing. Over BGN 81.6 million of the European Child Guarantee will be directed to measures to reduce the risk of poverty for children by 26.6%. Guarantee measures will also be implemented by the Education Support Program and in the school education system.
The draft Food and Basic Material Support Program for the next programming period was also presented to the members of the Thematic Working Group. "The project aims to identify the most needy people, to identify their needs, to direct them to the appropriate support, but also to monitor the results at the level of a specific needy person," said Anna Angelova, Head of Programming and Selection Operations in the Social Assistance Agency. People in need will be able to count on material and food assistance, which will include food, hot lunch and hygiene products. More than 10,000 newborns living in at-risk, poor or under-cared environments will receive health care packages. With funds from the Food Program, a total of 10,000 children aged 10 months to 3 years will also receive food from the Children's Kitchen. The budget of the Food and Basic Material Support Program will amount to about BGN 412 million.
Deputy Minister Ivan Krastev stated that according to the European Commission, the Operational Program for Food and Additional Material Incentives (2014-2020) is the best implemented program in the entire European Union in terms of efficiency, financial implementation and the best effect on targets. groups. According to him, in preparing the new program for the period 2021-2027, the Managing Authority has managed to expand the scope of the Food Program and include innovative activities for the EU that will help us get out of the simple distribution of food once or twice in the year.
The HRDP and Food program draftts for the next programming period were sent to the European Commission at the end of last week. "We are literally on the final straight. Our main ambition is to provide the fastest and highest quality access to funding for a wide range of beneficiaries, because most often this funding changes lives," said the Deputy Minister.
22.10.2021
MORE PAID LEAVE AFTER A COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to important changes in the regulation of working time in the EU with the emergence of greater flexibility in short-term working time schemes; the adaptation of working hours to teleworking; and temporary derogations from the working time regulations, in particular to ensure the continuity of basic services. These are the findings of the new Eurofound report.
Despite economic constraints, which significantly reduce working time in a number of sectors, general trends do not fully reflect this due to the polarization of working time in different sectors; as some workers are left with little work due to constraints, while others face burnout due to long working hours and difficult requirements.
The report shows that in 2020, the average collectively agreed working week in the EU was 37.8 hours - the longest in Malta, Greece and Croatia (40 hours) and the shortest in France and Germany (35.6 hours). At the sectoral level, the collectively agreed normal working week was the shortest in public administration (38 hours) and the longest in transport (39.2 hours).
Despite the fundamental changes that COVID-19 has brought to the labor market and the associated pressures on individual sectors, data on the total normal weekly working hours of full-time employees continue to decline at almost consistent rates in most Member States, varying from a decrease of 0.1 hours in Slovenia to 0.3 hours in Austria, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.
In Denmark, Estonia, France, Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands, the usual weekly hours in 2020 remain the same as in 2019. Data also show that the difference between Member States that joined before 2004 (EU-14) and those that joined after 2004 (EU-13) remain stable by about 1 hour less than in 2011.
However, collective agreements lead to changes in the annual working time between Member States. Full-time workers in the EU-27, but with a collective agreement, had to work an average of 1,703 hours in 2020, with fewer hours (1,665 hours) in the EU-14 and more in the EU-13 (1,809 hours).
Hungary and Poland, where collective bargaining does not have a relevant role in regulating working time, have the longest annual working hours, which is almost seven weeks more than their counterparts in Germany, which have the shortest collectively agreed annual working hours.
Collective bargaining leads to longer paid annual leave for employees, the report also shows. In Bulgaria, collective agreements may provide for a longer annual leave than the minimum 20 days set by law. According to the National Institute for Conciliation and Arbitration (NIPA), in 2019 collective agreements provided workers with 24 days of paid annual leave on an arithmetic average.
In Cyprus, in most sectors and companies, collective agreements provide for additional paid leave in proportion to years of employment. In Romania, collective agreements usually provide for a longer annual paid leave than the 20 statutory days.
Depending on the length of service of the employee, the leave can be up to 30 days. In Greece, the length of annual paid leave also depends on length of service. In the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy and Slovakia, the available data show that, on average, collective agreements provide for about 5 additional days of leave per year in excess of the 20 days set by law.
In the Netherlands, workers who are also covered by collective agreements have a longer paid annual leave than the 20 days provided by law. In Sweden, the agreed annual paid leave for workers averaged 27.4 days in 2019.
Denmark and Germany, with an average of 30 days, have the longest collectively agreed allowances for paid leave - well above the statutory minimum leave.
22.10.2021
THE PANDEMIC HIT YOUNG PEOPLE HARDEST ON THE LABOR MARKET
The pandemic has hit young people hardest in terms of the labor market. Statistics from the International Labor Organization show that if the decline in employment for the elderly population is between three and four percent, for young people it is almost nine percent. This was said by the President of the Economic and Social Council (ESC) Zornitsa Rusinova at the youth forum #BeEurope, organized by ESC.
There is currently growing youth unemployment in Bulgaria, and we have a more significant problem with young people who are neither in employment nor in work, Rusinova said.
According to the chairman of ESC, the problems of young people should be heard, because at the moment there is a worrying trend of pupils and students who study online for almost two years and are deprived of the opportunity to communicate with friends, teachers, seniors, peers, to have group and practical activities. It is important to talk about how this will affect the future of young people, said the chairman of ESC.
Rusinova called on the participants in the forum to tell about their first job and specified that as a student she worked as an English teacher, which taught her many things.
21.10.2021
ROMANIA AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC ARE ALSO INTRODUCING A GREEN CERTIFICATE
After Bulgaria and Serbia, Romania and the Czech Republic announced that they are introducing a green certificate for access to various public sites. 20 EU countries already use such a certificate.
Romania announces new measures against COVID-19. As of Monday, masks are becoming mandatory everywhere, unvaccinated will not be able to move at night, said President Klaus Johannes. Students go on vacation for two weeks. Access to most sites will only be allowed with a green certificate, and there will be restrictions for unvaccinated people. The only solution to stop the pandemic is vaccination, the head of state stressed. Yesterday, Romania registered 574 new deaths and almost 19,000 new infections.
The Czech Republic is introducing measures against COVID-19 after the number of new cases exceeded 3,000 - twice as many as a week ago. Elections have been held in the country, and coalition talks are yet to come. However, Prime Minister Andrey Babish has said he will not wait for a new government to impose measures.
A green certificate will be required to enter restaurants and clubs. Free adult testing is stopped and the validity period of coronavirus tests is reduced. The number of vaccinated in the Czech Republic, like many Eastern European countries, is below the EU average. Two thirds of the population of almost 11 million are fully immunized, while in the European Union the percentage is 74.
20.10.2021
DO I NEED A GREEN CERTIFICATE TO WORK?
What are the obligations of the employer and the employee after the entry into force of the last order of the Minister of Health and in which cases we will need a Green Certificate of Employment?
According to Order № RD-01-856/19.10.2021 of the Minister of Health, the employers in the medical establishments for hospital care, the complex oncology centers, the dialysis centers, the hospices and the homes for elderly people organize the work process, admitting to work only employees with valid documents for vaccination, passed illness or test within the meaning of Order № RD-01-733 of 27.08.2021 of the Minister of Health.
According to the same order, the control over the implementation of the introduced anti-epidemic measures is performed by inspectors/employees with valid documents for vaccination, passed illness or test within the meaning of Order № RD-01-733 of 27.08.2021 of the Minister of Health.
Therefore, if you work in:
- in medical establishments for hospital care;
- complex oncology centers;
- dialysis centers;
- hospices and homes for the elderly;
- or you are an inspector/employee who monitors the implementation of the introduced anti-epidemic measures,
you will be allowed to work only with valid documents for vaccination, passed illness or test within the meaning of Order № RD-01-733 of 27.08.2021 of the Minister of Health.
To date (20.10.2021) and according to the cited order of the Minister of Health, employers and appointing authorities should organize the work process of employees in remote form (remote work / home work), where possible, allowing present work to a maximum of 50% of the staff.
Employers and appointing authorities in all administrations organize the work process of employees by:
- establish working hours with variable limits and the start of the working day between 7.30 and 10.00, unless this is not possible depending on the nature of the work, and
- assign remote work to at least 50% of staff, unless this is not possible depending on the nature of the work.
20.10.2021
GREEN CERTIFICATES - WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW
From Thursday, October 21, 2021, almost all public life in Bulgaria, excluding schools and public administration, introduces green certificates for employees, visitors and customers.
What do we need to know about the new measures?
Where will you enter with a green certificate?
Access with a green certificate is introduced for congress-conference events, seminars, music and other festivals, dance schools and other group classes for adults, visits to museums, galleries, cinemas, theaters, circus performances, concerts, fitness centers, gyms, swimming swimming pools, restaurants and entertainment, gambling halls and casinos, visits to malls, shops with an area of over 300 square meters, bazaars and indoor exhibitions, organized excursions and group visits to tourist sites. The requirement applies to both visitors and employees of these sites. All employees of medical institutions, hospices and homes for the elderly must also have a green certificate. It is also required for face-to-face activities of students in higher education.
Where will a green certificate not be requested?
The green certificate will not be required for public transport, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks. It will not be used in schools either for teachers or children. Access to the administration will also take place without a green certificate, so as not to deprive citizens of administrative services.
Access to drugstores, opticians, pet stores, postal and courier service providers, insurers, payment service providers and telecommunications operators' offices remains free, whether they are stand-alone or located in malls. Markets also operate without a certificate.
What closes?
There are activities that will not work even with a green certificate. These are the centers for support of personal development, children's centers, clubs and others, providing organized group services for children. An exception is allowed only for special educational support centers. Teambuilding and other organized group events in work teams are also stopped. Indoor team sports are suspended, with the exception of trainings and competitions for registered athletes at licensed sports federations. Visits to medical establishments are suspended, with the exception of visits to patients in the terminal stage, as well as visits to specialized institutions for the provision of social services and those for residential-type social services for children and adults. Private gatherings (baptisms, weddings, etc.) are allowed with the participation of no more than 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors.
Who do not have health certificates valid?
Only children under the age of 18 are exempt from the health certificate requirement and are free to go anywhere but not to school. For example, the requirement to enter a mall only with an adult companion has been dropped, as has been the case with lighter measures so far. Initially, children under the age of 12 were exempted from certificates, as is the principle in other countries that apply such a measure.
When will the schools close?
According to the order of the Minister, all attendance classes are terminated in municipalities upon reaching a 14-day morbidity of over 750 per 100,000 within the respective municipality.
What is a green certificate?
The green certificate is a document for completed vaccination, proven illness or a negative test for COVID-19. All three circumstances must be registered in the national health information system.
How is a disease proven?
Illness is evidenced by a document certifying that the person has spent COVID-19 from 11 to 365 days earlier. The days are counted from the date of the test, which can now officially be not only a PCR but also an antigen test performed after December 1, 2020.
How long is the green certificate valid?
The vaccination certificate has no expiration date. In addition, the third dose has nothing to do with it - a certificate is also issued for it, but it is not among the official access documents.
For thousands of people, another question is more interesting - when a vaccination certificate becomes valid. Both before and now one can immediately download the document. Previously, however, it became valid 14 days after the final dose. This continues to apply to certificates that will be used for travel abroad. For the territory of the country, however, the vaccination certificate already enters into force immediately after the final dose. In addition, a first dose certificate will be recognized and will be valid for up to 30 days after its placement.
The certificate of illness is valid for one year.
The negative antigen test is valid for 48 hours and the PCR test for 72 hours.
How to get a green certificate?
The certificate can be obtained from the place of vaccination/testing or downloaded from the national health information system. The certificate can be provided in paper form or in a mobile application, as there is no Bulgarian application for storage of covid certificates, but there is an application for their verification. For the purposes of the order, the European digital certificates and the original documents from the personal doctor/laboratory will be valid, which can only be in Bulgarian. The system allows the document to be downloaded in pdf format and displayed through applications such as a wallet in a mobile phone.
Who has the right to take tests?
Only certain laboratories can enter data into the national information system. They are about 150, and the full list can be found on the website of the national health information system, on the website of the Ministry of Health and on the unified covid portal.
19.10.2021
Over BGN 1 billion in renewable energy projects in Bulgaria is ready to invest in a joint venture
CWP AND MERCURIA ARE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS FOR WIND AND SOLAR POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS IN OUR COUNTRY
The newly created joint venture of world leaders in green energy - CWP Europe is ready to invest over BGN 1 billion in renewable energy projects in Bulgaria. It brings together the experience and efforts of CWP, a leading renewable energy company (RES) in Southeast Europe and Australia, and Mercuria Energy Trading, one of the world's largest independent energy traders with revenues of over $ 100 billion.
CWP Europe is already working on the development of a total of 2 GW of RES capacity in Southeast Europe, worth a total of 1.9 billion euros, and has ambitions to significantly expand its plans in the coming years. Thus, the organization will significantly contribute to the provision of cheap green energy and accelerate the energy transition in four countries in the region - Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and Ukraine.
"We see a serious opportunity in Bulgaria and the other three markets, where the huge amount of expensive and polluting coal-fired power plants must be replaced with renewable sources as soon as possible," said Dimitar Enchev, CEO of CWP Europe.
CWP has been active in the region since 2008, developing and implementing the largest wind farms in Serbia (the 156-megawatt Čibuk project) and Romania (the 600-megawatt Fântânele Cogealac). The team is already developing a portfolio of wind projects in Bulgaria with a total production capacity of 669 MW and is working on several options for solar power plants in the country. There are already two large wind projects in Northeastern Bulgaria, which are at an advanced stage and whose construction is expected to begin in two years.
"Mercuria's participation will allow us to accelerate the process by even more actively looking for suitable projects in Bulgaria to support. There are many companies and specialists in the RES sector - from the development, design, construction and operation of RES plants and we are already establishing sustainable long-term partnerships with them. Now we will have the opportunity to develop and expand them," explains Dimitar Enchev.
"We are pleased to join CWP and support the production of cheap and clean electricity in Southeast Europe," said Jean-Frasois Steeles, Vice President of Energy Transition at Mercuria. "We look forward to working with the CWP team to expand the company's portfolio and apply our expertise to optimize their strategy."
The scale of CWP Europe's investments in Bulgaria will depend on the possibility of expanding its portfolio with suitable projects for the construction of wind and solar power plants and energy storage systems in Bulgaria. Special attention will be paid to the development of still innovative for this part of Europe hybrid projects, which include the simultaneous production of wind and solar electricity and energy storage systems.
CWP Europe is convinced that the development of RES will allow in the long run to keep electricity prices stable, and thus to maintain the economic competitiveness of the region.
"The topic of electricity prices will become more sensitive in Bulgaria. Electricity from new wind and solar power plants has the lowest cost, and - market prices will fall the more wind and sun join the energy mix," explains Dimitar Enchev.
"Besides, unlike other productions, in the case of renewable energy the price does not depend on the extraction and delivery of expensive raw materials. This will ensure stability and predictability of electricity consumption of consumers and will have a positive impact on their competitiveness," he added.
Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and Ukraine are among the most carbon-intensive energy markets, with coal still dominating the energy mix. These countries have the most polluted air in Europe and have some of the highest mortality rates due to polluted air. The decarbonisation of these markets is an urgent priority and will require thousands of megawatts of wind and solar energy.
18.10.2021
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: 7 STEPS TO REALIZING YOUR BUSINESS IDEA
You have an idea for your own company. You think you have a chance to succeed and you want to start a business.
How to do it, however? See the following 7 steps you can take:
Here are 3 main things to look for:
- the market;
- potential competitors;
- the audience to which you will sell.
Because if there is no market for your idea and products, your business will not arouse interest, and thus you will not generate sales. You will not generate them if there are not enough people to offer. If the competitors are too strong and you have nothing to differ from them, they will overshadow you from the very beginning. It is a good idea here to do a SWOT analysis to look at your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats of the environment in which you want to grow your business.
This means creating a profile that is met by the customers in front of whom you will place your goods. To do this, you should do:
- Market research;
- analysis of competitors;
- review of trends;
- Analysis of demographic data and all other surveys and surveys that can help you get to know the people to whom you will offer your product.
In this way you will learn how to advertise to your real audience, in "their language".
No matter how much money you have to start a business, they are limited. That's why it's important to plan how you spend them. What expenses will you make at the start, what expenses will you make weekly, monthly, annually. Here is the place of the forecasts for your income and the time it will take you to pay off your investment. You need to predict in general terms how long your company will need an infusion of funds to survive until the time comes when it will be able to cover its costs.
It usually includes the following components:
- description of the company;
- Market Analysis;
- organization and management;
- product lines;
- marketing and sales;
- financing;
- financial forecasts.
Even if you are not looking for external funding, this plan will help you clarify many important points before you start. This will allow you to prepare for them in advance so that once you open the business, you can focus on managing it, rather than just building its structure and figuring out how to advertise it.
No matter what you offer on the market, it should arouse the interest of customers and be good enough for them to buy it. To make sure this applies to your products, you need to test them among real consumers. An option is to ask friends and acquaintances to help you. You can also consult users on social networks. An option is to provide a prototype of your product for free use to individual target customers against their opinions about it.
Here is the place to answer the question of what you want to achieve with your business. Your answers must be achievable on the one hand, and traceable on the other. This is not about "being independent" goals. These are goals such as "X sales by the end of the year", "Regular customers in the first 6 months". These are goals that you can monitor and review.
- Register your business.
- Provide a location from which to develop it.
- Create your own website.
- Advertise your products.
- Hire the employees you need.
- Select external service providers (accounting for example), etc.
The seven steps seem a little scary (and maybe not a little) at first glance. Keep in mind, however, that each step can be divided into smaller, easier-to-perform steps. And so to be realized. Success!
18.10.2021
BACB WILL PROVIDE LOANS UNDER THE RENEWED GUARANTEE PROGRAM OF THE BULGARIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
The Bulgarian-American Credit Bank (BACB) is the first bank to provide loans under the renewed guarantee program of Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) in support of micro, small and medium enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, BDB announced.
BACB will start accepting requests for funding under the renewed conditions as of today, October 18.
The renewed warranty program allows Bulgarian companies to apply for shorter approval deadlines and relaxed collateral requirements.
The financing can be up to BGN 3 million, regardless of the size of the company, and BDB will cover up to 80 percent of the loan principal under the conditions specified in the program.
The loan repayment period is up to 7 years with the possibility of a grace period of up to 3 years.
Companies will now have information on whether they are approved for lending within 5 working days after providing all the necessary documents, and the absorption of funds will be possible within 10 working days.
To receive financial support under the program, companies must have completed at least 3 financial years with sales revenue, at least one of which has ended with a profit.
Micro, small and medium-sized companies from all sectors of the economy can benefit from the guarantee instrument. The condition is to carry out economic activity and to be registered in Bulgaria, as well as to suffer adverse economic consequences from the spread of the pandemic.
As security, personal guarantees are required from the beneficial owners of the companies or from related parties, as well as, if applicable, pledges of receivables from accounts under the Obligations and Contracts Act, the Special Pledges Act and through a financial collateral agreement under the Contracts Act. for financial security.
The deadline for applying for the anti-crisis measure is December 20 this year.
Since the launch of the BDB's guarantee program in May 2020, business support loans of over BGN 310 million have been guaranteed.
18.10.2021
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COURT DETERMINES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY DISMISSED?
The court decision that has entered into force, by which the dismissal of an employee has been recognized as illegal and has been reinstated to the position held before the dismissal, is binding on the employer. Upon reinstatement of an illegally dismissed employee of the court, it is considered that the employment relationship has not been terminated. In Art. 5, para. 1 of the Ordinance on the employment record and length of service stipulates that when the dismissal of the employee is recognized as illegal or the grounds for termination of employment are corrected, the entry of these circumstances in the employment record is made by the employer who terminated the employment. In case of annulment of the dismissal with an effective court decision, the elongated stamp and the grounds for termination in the respective column shall be crossed out in the employment record book. Enter the number and date of the decision on the basis of which the correction is made, as well as the date of its entry into force. The made correction is certified with the signature and the seal of the employer according to art. 2, para. 5 of the same ordinance.
According to Art. 354, item 1 of the Labor Code (LC) the time during which the employee was unemployed due to dismissal, which is recognized as illegal by the competent authorities, is recognized as length of service from the date of dismissal until his return to work. When in the period from the dismissal to the restoration of work, the employee has meanwhile entered another job, for length of service under Art. 354, item 1 of the Labor Code, only the time during which he was actually unemployed will be taken into account, ie the time of work under the other employment relationship will be deducted from the entire period, which is considered as length of service on a general basis. Art. 351 as time of work under an employment contract.
In Art. 40, para. 4 of the Ordinance on pensions and length of service stipulates that for the period after 31 December 2002, if the duration of the length of service for persons working under an employment or official legal relationship is equal to the duration of the length of service or employment, or in the official book upon termination of the legal relationship the following text shall be entered by the insurer: “The insurance length of service is equal to the credited work (service) length of service.” If the specified entry has not been made in the employment or service book, the insurance length of service shall be established by a document in a form approved by the manager of the National Social Security Institute, issued by the insurer.
