05.10.2021
NEARLY 2,000 GRADUATES CAN START THEIR FIRST JOB UNDER THE “CAREER START” PROGRAM
Under the "Career Start" program, 1918 new jobs are announced. From October 4, 2021, young graduates with higher education can apply for jobs in 2022 in central departments and their territorial divisions in the country, the Employment Agency announced.
To participate in the “Career Start” program, applicants must be under the age of 29, not completed by October 29, 2021 inclusive, and have a higher education corresponding to that specified by the employer for the specific job. It is also required that the young people are registered with the labor office as unemployed or employed, job seekers, persons and do not have work experience in the acquired specialty of higher education.
This opportunity is realized by the Employment Agency according to the criteria and procedure for applying for the "Career Start" program approved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. Through the Program, unemployed young people who have completed their higher education can, within 12 months, gain their first work experience, as well as professional experience, skills and practice in the acquired education, with which to start their career development.
The announced jobs in the state institutions are on the territory of the whole country, as nearly 685 of them are in the city of Sofia, over 140 in Plovdiv and Varna, about 110 in Ruse and Burgas, between 20 and 65 in the other regional centers, and in settlements Near the regional centers, nearly 400 jobs have been created in the local offices of ministries and agencies.
About 150 positions in different cities of the country are offered by the Ministry of Interior, the Employment Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and others. The Ministry of Education, the National Revenue Agency, the Social Assistance Agency, the National Social Security Institute, the Customs Agency, and the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture are also included in the Program with more than 50 jobs across the country as future employers of young graduates. Jobs under the Program have also been announced by the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria, 17 ministries, 38 state, national and executive agencies, national and state institutes and commissions.
The jobs requested by the public services are for professions in almost all areas of the higher education system. The majority of young people are law graduates (over 200), economics, finance and accounting (over 100 jobs), social activities (about 70), administration and management (over 50), informatics and computer science (over 50), architecture, construction and geodesy (over 40), etc. Most of the positions are without a requirement for a professional field or specialty of the completed higher education, which gives a chance to all young people meeting the other conditions of the Program to choose and apply for the 3 most preferred among them. However, almost all employers have stated that applicants need to have an appropriate level of computer skills, and about 300 positions require specific foreign language competencies. There are also jobs (also over 300) for young people who do not have or cannot demonstrate digital or foreign language skills.
Applicants can submit their application documents for jobs throughout the country until October 29, 2021, including at the labor office where they are registered as employed or unemployed job seekers, or electronically through the form published on the website of the Employment Agency.
We recommend that young people before applying to get acquainted with the full list of advertised jobs in the procedure, procedure, conditions and necessary documents for application, which are published on the official website of the Employment Agency in the section "Career Start Program".
The same documents can be found on the information boards in all labor offices in the country, where applicants will receive the necessary assistance to apply, participate in an interview, support for territorial and/or professional mobility and other additional services, according to the Employment Agency.
04.10.2021
A NEW PLATFORM HELPS BULGARIAN STARTUPS WITH FUNDING
Funding up to EUR 50,000, business development consultations and contacts with potential partners on a global level can be obtained by Bulgarian start-up companies thanks to the newly created 5x Labs platform. Behind the idea are some of the co-founders of the first venture capital investment funds in Bulgaria - NEVEQ 1 and NEVEQ 2 and the first investment funds in Bulgaria, which operate on the principle of an open capital investment platform - Neo Ventures and Neo Gravity. They bring together dozens of "business angels" and experts at home and abroad, who choose whether to get involved and help a specific startup, opened by 5x Labs.
The initiative is also backed by the international consulting company EY (Ernst & Young), which will support entrepreneurs with mentoring and professional advice in the field of taxes, law, corporate finance and accountability. This is possible thanks to the EYnovation™ program, which helps start-up and fast-growing Bulgarian companies to develop their financial processes and prepare for the requirements of international markets.
The selection of startups is done in two phases - a preliminary review and official presentation of 5 selected business startups by their creators before a 5-member jury. According to the regulation, the composition of the jury is not permanent and it meets in accordance with the theme of the presented projects. However, the evaluation criteria are rigid and have been developed in accordance with a specific methodology. They allow an accurate assessment of startups on several factors: a clear value proposition, the possibility of growth, an established model for recurring revenue, market impact, competitive advantage, team experience and the presence of previous investors. The maximum funding that participants can receive is 50,000 euros, and it can vary according to the needs and prospects of the business. Upon successful presentation, the jury may decide to support more than one participant in the respective round.
“We use our contacts with dozens of business angels in Bulgaria and around the world to raise funding for start-up businesses with strong teams and concepts with the potential to enter the global market. No less important, however, is that we offer our experience and expertise to serial investors, entrepreneurs and professionals from different industries and geographies, as well as our network of contacts. That is why every time the jury includes representatives of different investment funds, business leaders from different sectors, marketing and media professionals", explains Pavel Ezekiev, co-founder and managing partner in the open-end investment funds Neo Gravity and Neo Ventures, which is the main driving force behind the new 5x Labs platform. "Our goal is to give a chance and support to good business ideas and teams in different sectors, not just the usual IT and fintech projects, which have traditionally been the focus of attention in recent years," he added.
"From our work with start-ups over the years, we have seen that they need expert help and advice at an early stage of development, especially when it comes to international operations. In the EYnovation program, we combine the knowledge and experience of our specialists with our enthusiasm to help startup companies. Our goal is to lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the future. From our experience so far, we see that this is a significant plus in talks with business clients and investors at a later stage," said Victor Mitev, associate partner at EY.
There are already four startups awarded by 5x Labs. Two of them - Cheese the Queen and Sofia Electric Brewing Co, are producers of high class gourmet products with an international market - nut cheeses and kraft beer. The third supported concept is for hyperbaric oxygen therapy in combination with biotechnology to be used in the healthcare and wellness industry. The jury of 5x Labs also awarded the company DoggoCollar, which will offer on the international market smart dog collars, which collect various data about the pet such as eating habits and activity and have a built-in GPS.
The next 5x Labs presentation session of five nominated startups before a 5-member jury will be held at the end of the year, and the pre-selection is permanently open, and those interested can send their presentation to office@neoventures.net.
04.10.2021
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: FIVE TIPS FOR LAYING THE SUCCESSFUL FOUNDATIONS OF COLD EMAIL MARKETING
Cold email marketing replaced the people who went from door to door in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the goal is no longer to sell at any price, but to offer the customer a personalized relationship in which he feels recognized.
Putting the customer in the spotlight is essential to be won and retained, writes the online edition business2community.com.
Cold email is simply an automated email optimized to quickly generate qualified customers. The message is sent to the target potential customer without the seller having been in contact with him in advance, and vice versa - the customer has not sought interaction with the business.
The goal is to provoke spontaneous contact. Therefore, a cold email should be based on a clear message and a proposal with high added value in order to attract the customer's attention.
Cold search requires meeting challenges to differentiate yourself from the competition, whose emails are also spilled in your potential customers' mails. The media summarizes five important techniques for reaching them.
Determine the ideal profile of the potential customer
Identifying the ideal potential customer is essential for understanding the centers of interest of the recipients and thus for effective communication. Cold email, which is specifically targeted at a segment of customers, increases the chances of the message being opened and read by more people.
Another way to identify potential customer profiles that are most likely to be susceptible to cold e-mail is through an online survey. A short online survey can quickly gather a large amount of data and thus understand the expectations of potential customers.
Create a list of email addresses
Maintaining a list of potential email addresses is mandatory to automate the process and assign a typical profile to each email address. This database should be used to store and quickly view potential customer information associated with each email address.
To complete this list, you need to gather the email addresses on your landing page to connect with people who are relevant to your business.
Create an attractive cold email
Recipients spend a maximum of a few minutes checking their mailbox and only a few seconds to see if they are interested in the content of an email. That's why attractive content is important to ensure a good frequency of opening a cold email.
Avoid sending cold emails from addresses that suggest spam - "contact", "information" or "no response" for example. Write a line on an email subject that is different from the rest of the cold emails that customers receive. Use special characters, symbols or even emojis to highlight the theme visually.
The content should be short, precise, clear, organized, with graphic elements to facilitate reading and highlight the offer. The reader must be able to understand the content in up to ten seconds.
Invest in it a part of the corporate personality. The humanization of commercial email can bring some sensitivity to some prospective customers.
Strive for realization without being intrusive
Being considered spam is the worst thing that can happen to a cold email. That's why email should look as unobtrusive as possible.
Test, test, test
The test is essential for measuring the effectiveness of a small-scale cold email campaign. The test is conducted on a sample, ie a small group of people, representative of all potential customers involved in the campaign.
Reminders are required to increase the frequency of opening cold emails. However, it is advisable not to overdo it.
04.10.2021
SEASONAL WORKERS MUST BE HEALTH SELF-INSURED
The NRA office in Montana reminds seasonal workers who do not start other work after the end of the summer season or register at the labor exchange without the right to compensation that they must pay their health insurance themselves.
In order to continue to use free of charge the health services provided by the National Health Insurance Fund, they must submit a one-time declaration form № 7 to the office of the NRA at the place of residence and pay the due contributions. Declaration form 7 shall be submitted by the 25th day of the month following the month of occurrence of the insurance obligation.
Persons who are permanently unemployed and do not receive benefits from the Labor Offices, are not insured by the state, must transfer their health contributions by the 25th of the month following the month to which they relate. This means that the health contribution for the month of September 2021 must be paid no later than October 25, 2021. The amount of the health insurance contribution for these persons is BGN 26.00.
The local office of the Agency also reminds that the health insurance rights of the citizens, which are insured at their own expense, are interrupted if no more than three due monthly health insurance contributions have been paid for the last three years. Citizens can inquire about their health insurance status through the electronic service available on the NRA website: www.nap.bg.
Information about the health status is made automatically by entering the PIN on the phone 0700 18 700. The information about the health status by phone works 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
01.10.2021
HOW CAN YOU BUY A PENSION INTERNSHIP ABROAD?
Many EU countries do not provide the opportunity to buy a pension if you have worked in them. Applicant pensioners in Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands are not eligible to purchase a retirement age.
In other countries, the periods for which you can buy an internship are shorter than in our country, according to data from the National Social Security Institute.
Austria
As a rule, periods spent in lower and higher education and those in training are taken into account if a contribution has been paid for those periods.
Belgium
An internship for a pension can be purchased during the period of higher education for which a diploma has been obtained.
Doctoral dissertation periods only if the doctorate has been obtained (maximum 2 years);
Professional internships (under certain conditions);
From the age of 18 for a person who has an apprenticeship contract
The period during which secondary education is followed
Czech Republic
Every citizen aged 18 or over can purchase a period of insurance up to 1 year ago, as long as the total number of periods does not exceed 15 years.
Persons employed abroad after 31.12.1995 can buy periods up to 2 years ago, without a limit on the total number of years.
Purchases of periods without a limit on the total number of years are possible at any time in certain cases, such as:
* jobseekers registered with the Labor Office for periods in which they have not received unemployment benefits;
* full-time students at secondary or university level;
* Members of the European Parliament elected in the Czech Republic for their term of office;
* spouses of those who work abroad in the diplomatic service
It is not possible to purchase reimbursement periods for the sole purpose of obtaining the right to an old-age pension.
France
"Persons insured under a general scheme who have not paid enough contributions may, under certain conditions, make payments for the pension by purchasing seniority.
* for the years of higher education, the training must be validated with a diploma.
* for incomplete years during which the insured person has validated less than 4 quarters.
There are two options for purchase:
* at a flat rate. The purchase increases the percentage of pension calculation;
* at the rate and for the term of the insurance. In no case can the insured person purchase more than 12 quarters.
Conditions:
* be between the ages of 20 and 66 inclusive,
* do not receive an old-age pension.
Germany
Additional payment for periods of study: Insured persons may apply for voluntary contributions for periods of study after the age of 16, which are not recognized as periods without income, provided that these periods are no longer supported by contributions and an application for additional training. payments are made before the age of 45.
Additional payments after reaching the statutory retirement age: parents born before 1 January 1955 with recognized periods of child-rearing.
Payment of contributions in case of early retirement due to age:
Reductions in pensions can be compensated in full or in part due to the previous request for a pension for length of service in full or in part through the payment of contributions until reaching the statutory retirement age. An early claim for an old-age pension is deductible. The maximum amount that can be compensated for these deductions is the equivalent of the pension reduction. The insured person must declare that he / she intends to apply for an early retirement pension.
Some groups of people have the opportunity to make additional payments under certain conditions:
* German citizens who retire from an international organization without funds.
* Insured persons for whom the claim for compensation for periods related to criminal prosecution is legally binding.
* Clergy and members of religious orders who are recognized as displaced persons, provided that they have not resumed such work or activity in Germany,
* Insured persons who have not completed the qualification period before reaching the statutory retirement age and are not entitled to voluntary insurance before August 10, 2010.
* Soldiers and officers who have been released on leave as a result of legislation accompanying the reform of the German armed forces.
Greece
The periods without contributions that can be taken into account are periods for the number of children (300 days that can be purchased for the first child, 600 days for each subsequent child up to 1500 days for a maximum of 3 children), a period of parental leave for parenting, period of military service, period of educational leave, period of study, period of career break, period of strike and period of apprenticeship The above periods can be purchased for the purposes of the right to a pension, as well as for its calculation .
The conditions that must be met in order to purchase the above periods are: the right to an old-age pension under conditions valid from 01.01.2011 onwards and the completion of at least 3600 working days or 12 years of insurance.
A minimum of 48 months and a maximum of 84 months of insurance can be purchased.
Italy
Opportunity to purchase insurance periods in connection with the legal duration of university education; periods of work abroad in countries that have not signed a social security contract with Italy; periods of non-compulsory maternity leave not covered by the employment contract; paramilitary work carried out before 1 April 1996
Romania
Purchase of insurance periods is possible for those who conclude an insurance contract before August 2021. The maximum redemption period is 6 months before the signing of the contract.
Only insurance periods preceding the standard retirement age can be purchased retroactively.
Past purchases can be made for retrospective periods when the person has not accumulated any pension rights as a result of a career break and with a view to building a future right to an old-age pension. The paid contributions are collected and taken into account when determining the amount of the old-age pension.
Bulgaria
We have three periods for which you can buy a length of service for a pension: for the period of study for completed higher or semi-higher education, for the period in which you are pursuing a doctorate or up to 5 years, insufficient length of service in the general order.
01.10.2021
IN FIVE MUNICIPALITIES, 20% OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR MORE THAN A YEAR
The Covid-19 crisis has significantly changed the labor market in Bulgaria, with restrictions leading to a significant increase in unemployment in many regions of the country, especially in municipalities with traditionally more active labor markets, according to information from employment offices published by the Employment Agency, shows an analysis of the Institute for Market Economics (IME).
The data of the agency allow us to look at the permanent unemployment, through the data on the unemployed with registration in the labor offices for at least one year. While the presence of unemployment within certain limits is normal for a functioning labor market and a sign of labor mobility, long-term unemployment speaks only of the presence of insurmountable structural problems.
A map made by the IME visualizes the share of the long-term unemployed in the period from the end of 2019 to the latest available data and clearly demonstrates that this phenomenon is typical, above all, for Northern Bulgaria, and almost half of the municipalities in which it affects 8 % of the workforce are concentrated in the Northwest, the analysis said.
By the middle of 2021 in five municipalities - Hayredin, Ruzhintsi, Dimovo, Yakimovo and Kaolinovo registered unemployed for over a year exceed 20% of the economically active population, and more than 10% are in 36 municipalities. On the other hand, with less than 1% permanently unemployed are 100 municipalities, without any - five. In the leading economic centers - Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna their share is below 0.1%.
The impact of the crisis on long-term unemployment is visible in the comparison between its level at the end of 2019 and 2020, as it has increased in 117 municipalities, and in 18 of them - by more than 1 percentage point.
By mid-2021, the number of municipalities in which the indicator has deteriorated compared to its pre-crisis level has risen to 131, and many of those in which it is improving have initially high levels of permanent unemployment and the improvement is a logical step in period of growth in which the economy is from 2021. In the country as a whole the number of unemployed with more than a year of registration has increased from 42.3 to 44.4 thousand people.
Judging by the data published by the Employment Agency, we can conclude that the crisis has not significantly affected long-term unemployment in most regions, especially because the registered increases are not particularly high.
And by the middle of 2021 this type of unemployment remains localized mostly in Northwestern and Northeastern Bulgaria. Another question, however, is the number of permanent dropouts from the labor market as a whole, something that the data of the Employment Agency cannot show, the IME concludes.
01.10.2021
THE 60/40 MEASURE LASTS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR
The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) adopted a Draft Decree of the Council of Ministers amending and supplementing Decree № 151 of 2020.
The measures affect enterprises with a decrease in turnover and income of 30 and 40 percent, for which support of 50 and 60 percent is provided by the state on the insurance income of the persons for the respective month and the respective insurance contributions by the employer. This was announced at a briefing after the end of today's meeting of the NCTS by Galab Donev, Chairman of the Tripartite Council, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Policy.
By the end of the year, the budget available for the "60/40" measure is BGN 250 million, as the funds are allocated in the updated state budget.
On average, about 67-73 thousand employees and workers will be supported per month under the measure "60/40". The average monthly financial resource under the measure is about BGN 63 million.
BGN 100 million are provided for the measure "Keep me plus" as the average monthly support under the measure covers 67 thousand workers and employees and self-insured persons who will be supported under this measure, informed Minister Galab Donev.
He specified that under the measure "60/40" with a drop in turnover of 30 percent, the intensity of support is 50 percent for the insurance income on which the workers are insured and respectively 50 percent of the insurance contributions for the employer. With a drop in turnover of 40 percent, the familiar design of the measure, which was in effect until the end of May, is preserved, i.e. 60 percent support for the insurance income of employees and 60 percent for insurance contributions from the employer, Donev explained.
He pointed out that both in the old design of "60/40" and in the new design with both declines, the number of companies applying for this support has hardly decreased. There is only a three percent decrease in the number of employers, and there is also no significant decrease in the number of workers receiving support.
Sectors such as restaurants and hotels stand out, which in the old design of the measure received about 13 percent of the financial resource of the aid, while in the new design of the measure they reach about 25 percent of the financial resource, which is allocated monthly to the individual sectors that receive monthly support, said Minister Donev.
Minister Donev also informed that under the decree for payment of compensations to workers and employees and to self-insured persons, insured in economic activities, for which temporary restrictions have been imposed by a state body for their implementation in the period of declared state of emergency or declared epidemic situation. The NCTC reached a consensus that the decree should be adopted with some technical notes.
It is planned to support the persons affected by the cessation of the activity of the enterprises on economic activities by order of a state body - this is the Minister of Health and the respective directors of the Regional Health Inspectorates, the Minister said.
The Council of Ministers is about to approve the proposed by the NCTC changes in the measures of the state in support of business and employees.
30.09.2021
MORE THAN 5,000 JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE BEEN CREATED IN THE SOCIAL ECONOMY IN THE LAST 5 YEARS
Over 5,000 jobs for people with disabilities have been created in the social economy in the last 5 years through the joint efforts of the state, municipalities and the non-governmental sector. This was announced at the opening of the ninth European Forum for Social Entrepreneurship by Deputy Ministers of Labor and Social Policy Nadia Klisurska and Ivan Krastev. The event is held in Plovdiv in the period September 29 - October 3.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy will continue to support social enterprises, to promote entrepreneurship in this area and the creation of new jobs for disadvantaged people in the labor market, as well as to seek opportunities for direct support for jobs, said the Deputy Minister Ivan Krastev. The social and solidarity economy embodies the future, mainly because it allows people to be involved in processes that provide them with real opportunities for development and equal opportunity, he added.
The principles of the social and solidarity economy have the potential to develop public relations in a new way, added Deputy Minister Nadya Klisurska. According to her, in recent years the social economy in Bulgaria is developing more successfully and sustainably as an integral part of the national economy.
In the coming years, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy will continue to support social entrepreneurs in the development of social innovations and tools for direct contact with citizens, as well as for strengthening their public role in maintaining social and environmental balance. For the implementation of these goals by 2027, about BGN 70 million are provided under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan and the Human Resources Development Program.
Deputy Minister Klisurska presented awards for merits in the development of European social entrepreneurship "Stilian Balasopulov" to the municipality of Troyan, the Bulgarian Association for Neuromuscular Diseases, the Italian company "CONAST" and the International Fair in Plovdiv.
29.09.2021
UBB GRANTS EUR 74 MILLION IN PREFERENTIAL LOANS TO SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES
The successful cooperation between United Bulgarian Bank (UBB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) continues with the signing of a new agreement under the Pan-European Guarantee Fund - EGF program. This will allow UBB to create a portfolio of EUR 74 million, under preferential terms for SMEs, in order to overcome the consequences of COVID-19. The program also allows full refinancing of liabilities, which is a key feature of the new guarantee instrument.
The EGF is part of the European Union's recovery package, which aims to provide a total of € 540 billion in support for the most severely affected parts of the EU economy. The scheme is part of the new generation of financial instruments, which are fully in line with the "green policy" of the European Union and correspond to the plans and goals of UBB to promote sustainable business development. The program is implemented by the EIF with financial support provided through the contribution of the participating Member States to the EGF.
The EGF guarantee instrument allows for coverage of 70% of the amount of each investment and working capital, free of charge for final recipients. The maximum amount of financing at the level of the borrower and related parties is approximately BGN 2.2 million, and limited financing of companies in the Agriculture sector is allowed. The maximum term for investment loans is up to 120 months, and for working capital - up to 36 months.
"Small and medium-sized enterprises are key players in every country, regardless of size and income level. Their role in supporting sustainable development is paramount. As small and medium-sized enterprises are valuable players in the economy, and COVID-19 continues to fill a large part of our lives, I am sure that the program will provide them with another useful tool for their stable and sustainable growth," said Peter Ruben, Country Manager of KBC Group in Bulgaria and CEO of UBB.
This is the eighth guarantee agreement signed between the EIF and UBB. The total volume of the Bank's loans included in EIF instruments exceeds BGN 1 billion. The successful partnership allows access to preferential financing conditions and supports the development of Bulgarian business.
29.09.2021
MORE THAN BGN 200 MILLION FOR ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR THOSE WORKING AT RISK IN THE PANDEMIC
These additional costs were approved by the government in the MLSP budget
The government approved additional expenditures of BGN 214.6 million from the budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy for 2021, provided by the update of the state budget.
The funds will be used to pay monthly targeted assistance for families with children up to 14 years of age in the event of a declared epidemic emergency, heating allowances, personal assistance mechanism costs, as well as to provide additional remuneration for employees of the Social Assistance Agency, The Employment Agency and the Executive Agency "General Labor Inspectorate" for October, November and December, in connection with work in risky conditions and overtime work on controlling the pandemic C0VID-19.
