18.09.2023
36 FREE DIGITAL SKILLS COURSES ARE STARTING
The Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), in cooperation with Contipso Learning, has created an electronic training platform in the field of digital skills. The activity was implemented within the framework of the "Ready for Digital Transformation" project, implemented by BIA, in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria.
In the electronic platform, 36 courses are available, divided into two categories - Specific digital skills and Sectoral basic skills in 16 economic sectors.
The courses in the electronic platform are completely free and freely accessible, after registration at https://bia.contipso.com.
Each course on the platform takes between 40 and 180 minutes. From the very beginning, users have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with all the content and the requirements for it. Each course ends with a final test, the successful passing of which brings a certificate of completed training in the relevant digital field.
Users can choose from 20 courses to improve their specific digital skills. Topics include:
Courses from the "Sectoral Basic Courses" category are related to characteristics of the transition to a digital economy in the sectors:
The electronic courses are developed at a high professional level, with attractive and easy-to-navigate online learning content, reflecting modern trends in information and communication technologies. The educational content meets the standards of the European framework for citizens' digital competence DigComp and the current requirements of the Bulgarian labor market for the digital competence of the workforce.
We remind you that within the framework of the BIA project, analyzes of the needs for digital skills in 16 economic sectors were prepared, which showed that only 19% of the workforce covers the required level of digital competence for the position they hold, and over 90% of the working places require specific types of digital skills.
15.09.2023
THE STATE GIVES A MINIMUM WAGE TO THE UNEMPLOYED
Jobs for nearly 10,000 unemployed people will be provided through programs and measures from the National Employment Action Plan for 2023, which was approved by the government. The priority goals of the document are to promote economic activity and employment of the population, including among the youth who do not work and do not study, and to reduce unemployment.
Among the main tasks of the plan is the increase in the quality of the workforce by acquiring digital skills according to the needs of the economy. About 9,500 employed and unemployed people are expected to be included in training to become more competitive in the labor market.
The budget of the Employment Plan for 2023 is BGN 73 million. As a result of the implementation of the activities set out in it, the average annual unemployment rate in Bulgaria is expected to decrease to 4.1% of the economically active population.
The full-time unemployed included in employment programs will receive labor remuneration of BGN 780, which will be subsidized by the state. A subsidy of the same amount will also be received by employers who have hired the unemployed under the measures of the Employment Promotion Act. The remuneration of young people included in the "Start a Career" program will increase from BGN 860 to BGN 920.
The salaries of those employed under the national program "Activation of inactive persons" are also increasing. The remuneration of youth mediators to the municipalities will increase to BGN 950, psychologists and case managers - to BGN 1,070, and Roma mediators - to BGN 950. The salaries of graduates employed under the programs will also increase to BGN 820. Retirement Assistance" and "Melpomena", as well as under the National Program for Training and Employment of People with Permanent Disabilities.
According to the two-year plan of the state enterprise "Bulgarian-German Vocational Training Center", 1,566 unemployed people from various groups in a disadvantaged position on the labor market will be trained. About 530 people will work on the "Beautiful Bulgaria" project. According to the projects of the social partners, 6,246 unemployed people will participate in training for the acquisition of key competences and professional qualification in occupations in demand on the labor market.
15.09.2023
HOW A CONTRACT IS BROKEN AND WHEN REMEDIES ARE SEEKED
When the debtor under a bilateral contract fails to fulfill his obligation due to a reason for which he is responsible, the creditor may cancel the contract by giving the debtor an appropriate period for performance with a warning that after the expiration of the period he will consider the contract canceled. The warning must be given in writing when the contract is concluded in writing. This is provided by the Law on Obligations and Contracts.
Contracts that transfer, establish, recognize or terminate real property rights over real estate are annulled by court order. If the defendant offers performance during the trial, the court may grant a deadline for doing so, depending on the circumstances. Cancellation of the contract, however, is not allowed when the unfulfilled part of the obligation is insignificant in view of the interest of the creditor.
The annulment of contracts that are subject to registration does not affect the rights acquired by third parties before registration of the claim.
It is also expressly stated that the right to cancel the contract expires with a five-year statute of limitations. Cancellation has a retroactive effect, except for contracts for continuous or periodic performance. The creditor has the right to compensation for the damages caused by the non-performance of the contract.
It is important to point out that a debtor under a bilateral contract who has a demandable claim against his creditor from the same legal relationship from which his obligation arises can refuse to fulfill his obligation until the creditor fulfills his. In such a case, the defendant is sentenced to perform simultaneously with the plaintiff.
In the current Law on Obligations and Contracts, there are also special rules that apply in case of non-performance by a debtor under a contract. For example, if a debtor does not exactly fulfill his obligation, the creditor has the right to demand either the performance together with compensation for the delay, or to demand compensation for non-performance.
It is important to note that when compensation is sought in lieu of performance, the debtor may still offer the original amount owed along with compensation for delay. However, this can be done if the creditor still has an interest in the performance.
There is the possibility that the debtor's obligation is for an action that can be performed by another person. The creditor then has the right to request permission to perform this action at the debtor's expense. When the obligation is not to do something, the creditor may ask to be allowed to remove at the debtor's expense what was done in violation of the obligation.
However, the Law on Obligations and Contracts states that "the debtor is not liable if the impossibility of performance is due to a reason that cannot be attributed to him". It may be force majeure, materials necessary for the work may not have been delivered. Immediately afterwards, however, the law decreed that "the fact that the debtor does not have the funds to fulfill the obligation does not exempt him from responsibility".
The compensation covers the loss suffered and the lost benefit, insofar as they are a direct and immediate consequence of the non-performance and could have been foreseen when the obligation arose. But if the debtor was in bad faith, then he is responsible for all direct and immediate damages.
However, if the default is also due to circumstances for which the creditor is responsible, the court may reduce the compensation or release the debtor from liability. The debtor does not owe compensation for damages that the creditor could have avoided by exercising good stewardship.
Another rule is that when the day for performance of the obligation is fixed, the debtor falls into default after its expiration. But if this day has expired after the death of the debtor, then his heirs fall into default after the expiration of 7 days from the invitation. When there is no fixed day for performance, the debtor falls into default after being invited by the creditor. However, if it is a question of an obligation resulting from a tort, the debtor is considered in default and without invitation.
When the debtor is in arrears, he owes compensation even if performance becomes impossible due to a reason for which he was not previously responsible. The only possibility to get rid of him is if he proves that the creditor would have suffered the damages even with timely execution.
There are also rules if there is non-fulfillment of a monetary obligation. Then the debtor owes compensation in the amount of the legal interest from the day of the delay. For damages actually suffered in a higher amount, the creditor may request compensation in accordance with the general rules.
There is another rule when the debtor under a bilateral contract fails to fulfill his obligation due to a reason for which he is responsible. The creditor can then rescind the contract by giving the debtor an appropriate period of time for performance. This is done with a warning that after the expiration of the term, he will consider the contract void. The warning must be given in writing when the contract is concluded in writing.
The creditor can cancel the contract without giving the debtor a deadline. This can happen, for example, if performance has become impossible in whole or in part. Or if due to the debtor's delay it has become useless, as well as if the obligation had to be fulfilled without fail in the agreed time.
14.09.2023
NEARLY 13,400 UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE STARTED WORK WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE OP HRD 2014-2020
A total of 13,373 unemployed people with disabilities started work under measures financed under the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" 2014-2020. Nearly 70% of them - 9,351 unemployed people - were included in the "Training and Employment" operation, which is with a budget of BGN 210.5 million. The measure is implemented in the period 2015-2023. Its main goal is to provide employment to unemployed people over the age of 29 who are registered at the labor offices. If necessary, they are included in a different type of training before being directed to a specific workplace.
The measure is implemented in two components by the Employment Agency. During the implementation of Component 1, more than 18,000 inactive people and unemployed people over the age of 29 are included in subsidized employment for a period of up to 12 months or in training for the professional qualification "Digital competence" or "Communication in foreign languages". People with primary or lower education, long-term unemployed and unemployed people over the age of 54 received priority support.
Under Component 2, a total of 9,351 inactive and unemployed people with at least 75% reduced working capacity are directed to vacant jobs that do not require training or are included in courses to acquire key competences. They are employed full-time or part-time, and upon starting a job, they are provided with a mentor for a period of up to 3 months. Remunerations for people with permanent disabilities for a period of up to 24 months are provided under the "Training and Employment" measure. Employers who keep their jobs after subsidized employment ends receive a one-time incentive of six minimum wages to pay their wages.
13.09.2023
10% OF WORKERS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE GREEN TRANSITION
The development of green technologies inevitably leads to upheavals in the labor market. We still have 7 years to prepare the staff for work at the end of the Green transition, said Nadya Vasileva, director of the Employment Confederation.
"There are countless options for people to be retrained, but a strategy must be created. The state can be assisted by trade unions, employers' organizations, educational experts. Special programs in this regard must be created in a short period of time - a kind of correspondence training in computer skills. It should also be clear to the staff what they would like to work on. Such a program can last a maximum of a year, so that it does not take much time and people do not lose," the expert believes.
Around 40,000 employed people need to meet the needs of new employers after the end of the green transition, the confederation estimated. Coal plants as a type of production will not be competitive in 5 years, Vasileva believes.
"The Green Deal will happen whether we are ready for it or not. From the beginning of industrialization until now, the mechanization of labor has freed millions of people from their hard physical work. At first it caused hardship for them, but subsequently it led to more wealth and abundance,” is her assessment.
The green transition is expected to lead to more work from home, atypical forms of employment and more flexible working hours. "Apart from coal plants, people are actually the great wealth of our country and their retraining is key for them and for the economy. The green transition will allow society to focus on more creative professions. Routine tasks will be automated," predicts Nadya Vasileva.
65% of workers in Bulgaria are employed in services, 30% in production, 5% in agriculture. 10% of manufacturing workers are expected to be affected by the Green Transition. There will be a need for personnel in all sectors, Bulgaria suffers from an imbalance between demand and supply. These are the opinions of employers for years, resorting to importing personnel from third countries, the expert explains.
"Institutions must develop a coherent strategy. 800 million euros are planned for the protection of people from these regions who would lose their jobs in the transition to a green economy. New jobs will be created in the sectors of education, technology, digitalization, agriculture. By 2027, the role of machines in the work process will increase. Every 100 people who leave working age are replaced by 69 people, and this is a serious problem," concluded Nadya Vasileva.
13.09.2023
WHEN IS A MEDICAL WORK CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED?
Do I have to provide a medical certificate in order for them to conclude an employment contract with me?
According to Art. 2, para. 1 of Ordinance No. 3 of 28.02.1987, a mandatory preliminary medical examination is subject to: persons entering work for the first time; the persons who move to another job in the same or in another enterprise, which is associated with harmful factors and with the risk of occupational disabilities; persons who have terminated their employment for more than three months. Therefore, the person starting work must present a card for a preliminary medical examination.
Pursuant to Art. 287, para. 1 of the Labor Code, all workers and employees are subject to mandatory preliminary and periodic medical examinations. The conditions for carrying out the preliminary and periodic examinations according to the nature of the work, the working conditions and the age of the employees are defined in Ordinance No. 3 of 28.02.1987 on the mandatory preliminary and periodic medical examinations of the workers.
The official requirement and provision of files between services is regulated in Art. 17, para. 1 of Ordinance No. 3 of 25.01.2008 on the conditions and procedure for carrying out the activities of occupational medicine services (promulgated SG No. 14 of 12.02.2008). Pursuant to item 1 of the cited provision, the health records of workers are transferred and accepted between the occupational medicine services on paper and electronic media on an official basis when the worker's place of work changes and a request is made by the service serving the relevant enterprise. Given the peculiarities of national legislation and practices in the EU member states, it is possible to have a different order established for occupational health care and health monitoring of workers in the member state in which the worker's previous work experience took place. In all cases, it is the duty of the occupational medicine service to seek, in an official way, information regarding his medical monitoring, to include in the personal health file within the meaning of Art. 11, para. 10 of Ordinance No. 3 of 25.01.2008.
12.09.2023
IS THE LABOR MARKET SITUATION WORSENING?
The first signs that the positive trends in the labor market, observed in the last two years, have begun to weaken, show the data from the Labor Force Survey, in the second quarter of 2023. This is indicated in an analysis by the Ministry of Finance.
Although the second quarter is traditionally characterized by increased seasonal labor demand, the data show a decrease in employment on a quarterly basis (by 0.5%) and remaining at an almost unchanged level compared to a year earlier.
At the same time, in the second quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate in the country was 4.6%, increasing both on a quarterly basis (by 0.2 percentage points) and on an annual basis (by 0.1 percentage points). Data on the registered unemployed showed that this process may continue in the third quarter, although this is traditionally the period with the lowest unemployment within the calendar year.
Wages
In the second quarter of 2023, average wages rose by a nominal 13.1% year-on-year, slowing from the reported growth of 17.3% in the first quarter.
Current developments reflected the lower growth rate of the indicator in both the private and public sectors, at 14.1% and 10.1%, respectively.
The most significant contributors to the observed slowdown in wage growth, not only compared to the previous quarter but also compared to a year ago, were reported in trade (12.9%), government (7.8%), education (7.4%) and financial and insurance activities (6.4%).
With inflation contained, real labor income growth, deflated by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices, continued to accelerate to 4% on an annual basis.
11.09.2023
DEDUCTIONS FOR DEBTORS RECEIVING MINIMUM WAGE
To the extent that, for social reasons, it is not possible to allow the entire labor income of a person to be used to repay his obligations, the law defines the so-called non-sequestrable income - a minimum to guarantee the satisfaction of the basic needs of the debtor and his family.
Determining the part of the income that can be sequestered depends on two factors: the amount of salary and the number of children that the debtor supports. The detailed rules are contained in the Civil Procedure Code of the Republic of Bulgaria.
What are the legal provisions regarding the interrelationships between the minimum wage and the determination of the minimum guaranteeing the basic needs of the debtors and their families?
The minimum wage serves as a unit of measure for determining the sequesterable part of a person's income in the sense of the Civil Procedure Code. It provides that if the performance is directed to the labor remuneration or to any other remuneration for labor, as well as to a pension, the amounts of which are above the minimum wage, only:
- if the convicted person receives a monthly remuneration in the amount between the minimum wage and twice the amount of the minimum wage - one third if he has no children and one quarter if he has children he supports;
- if the convicted person receives a monthly remuneration in an amount between twice the amount of the minimum wage and four times the amount of the minimum wage - one second part, if he has no children, and one third part, if he has children he supports;
- if the convicted person receives a monthly remuneration in an amount exceeding four times the amount of the minimum wage - the upper limit above two times the amount of the minimum wage, if he is without children, and the upper limit above two and a half times the amount of the minimum wage, if he has children who it lasts.
In an interpretative decision of the Supreme Court of Cassation, an answer is given to a very debatable question in practice in recent years - whether the words "the amount of which is above the minimum wage" refer only to pensions or also to labor remunerations.
According to the Supreme Court of Cassation, "the non-sequestrable minimum is determined absolutely - in the amount of the minimum wage, and this applies both to any remuneration for work and to the pension.
There is no reason to believe that the legislature treats debtors who receive income from employment differently from those who receive income from a pension. Whatever the source of the income, the absolutely non-sequestable part is the same for all debtors - the minimum wage". Therefore, employees receiving labor remuneration up to this amount do not have a sequesterable part of the salary.
I would like to remind you that for the protection of employees who perform the lowest qualified work, a Minimum monthly gross salary has been set, which at the moment (2023) is BGN 780. This means that, by law, a monthly gross salary cannot be negotiated remuneration (for performing normal work during normal working hours) in smaller amounts.
Reference:
Art. 446 of the Civil Procedure Code
Decision No. 2 of the Supreme Court of Cassation dated 26.06.2015 according to interpretation No. 2/2013
08.09.2023
COMPANIES STEPPED UP THEIR SEARCH FOR WORKERS
In recent months, we have observed a downward trend in online job offers, citing the summer and holiday season as the main reason, during which employers and job seekers are less active. The monthly JobTiger analysis shows that as the end of this period approaches the supply is clearly visible.
Job advertisements at the end of August increased by 4% compared to the previous month, and on an annual basis they were 5% (2,300 offers) less. This annual decline is mainly due to the reduced offer in the IT sector in 2023, and in this sector alone the offers are 2000 less than last year. Excluding this factor, the job offer in August is at the same level as in 2022.
In contrast to the previous months, in August we observed an increase in offers in almost all sectors. Advertisements have increased the most in the sectors "Trade and Sales" (800 offers more, 8% growth), "Manufacturing" (650 offers less, 10% growth) and "Hospitality and Restaurant" (420 offers more, 7 % height). We also report an increase in advertisements in the sectors "Administrative and service activities" (200 offers more, 5% growth), "Logistics and transport" (200 offers more, 4% growth), "Marketing and advertising" (30 offers more, 2% growth) and "Construction" (30 offers more, 1% growth).
We report fewer offers in the sectors "Accounting, Auditing, Finance" (75 offers less, 4% drop) and "Healthcare and Pharmacy" (80 offers less, 4% drop). The "IT" sector has the biggest drop in ads, where in August there were 120 offers less than the previous month (2% drop).
Share distribution
A distinct leader in terms of the share of offers in August continues to be the "Trade and Sales" sector with 24%. The second and third places also remain unchanged and are occupied by the sectors "Manufacturing" (16%) and "Hospitality and catering" (15%).
Followed by the sectors "Logistics and transport" (11%), "Administrative and service activities" (10%), "IT" (8%) "Construction" (6%), "Healthcare and pharmacy" (5%), "Accounting" , Audit, Finance' (4%), 'Marketing and Advertising' (3%) and 'Art' (1%).
Work from home
According to the analysis, offers for working from home and/or telecommuting saw a 3% drop. The number of this type of offers in August was 3,600, which is a 9% share of all listings.
The distribution of this type of offer by sector is: 56% in the "IT" sector, followed by "Administrative and service activities" (17%), the outsourcing (BPO) industry sectors (16%) and "Trade and sales" (6% ).
Offer by city
The total number of advertisements in the leading regional cities increased by 5%. The increase in each of them is as follows: Sofia (5%), Plovdiv (3%), Varna (1%), Burgas (7%), Ruse (8%) and Stara Zagora (16%). As for share distribution in the city of Sofia, the ads are 42%, and in the other cities they are: Plovdiv (10%), Varna (9%), Burgas (4%), Ruse (3%) and Stara Zagora (3%).
Ads suitable for refugees
The number of refugee-friendly job postings in August was 50 more than in July. The total number of this type of ads is about 2,550 (2% growth), which is a 6% share of all ads.
05.09.2023
PROTECTION FROM DISMISSAL DURING THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD
Does the protection against dismissal apply during the probationary period? If I am laid off during my probationary period, will I be able to get compensation from the Labor Office?
In Art. 70, para. 1 of the Labor Code provides that the final employment acceptance of the worker or employee may be preceded by a contract with a trial period of up to 6 months.
The main purpose of the trial period is for the party in whose favor it is agreed to satisfy itself that the work is suitable for the person concerned, that it is performed according to the conditions and requirements set by the employer. The Labor Code stipulates that until the trial period expires, the party in whose favor it is agreed may terminate the contract without notice - Art. 71, para. 1 of the Labor Code.
Upon termination of the employment relationship on this basis, the protection in the event of dismissal provided for in Art. 333 of the Labor Code does not apply.
According to Art. 54a, para. 1, item 1 and item 2 of the Social Insurance Code, persons for whom insurance contributions have been paid or are due in the "Unemployment" fund for at least 12 months in the last 18 months before the termination of insurance are entitled to unemployment compensation and which:
The amount of cash compensation for unemployment and the period during which it will be received are determined by the territorial division of the National Social Security Institute.
