21.02.2023
GRANTS OF UP TO BGN 100,000 ARE AWARDED TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS IN COMPANIES
Recruitment of employer projects for co-financing under the Working Conditions Fund of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy in 2023 begins.
Funds will be allocated for the improvement of working conditions in enterprises and for the development of activities on the diagnosis of occupational diseases. This became clear after today's meeting of the National Council on Working Conditions and the Management Board of the fund.
The maximum amount of funds provided by the "Working Conditions" Fund is up to 30 percent of the approved and actually incurred costs for the implementation of the project, but no more than BGN 100,000.
The aim is, through their implementation, to improve the microclimate, electrical and fire safety, technical safety of work equipment and sanitary and domestic conditions in enterprises, as well as to reduce the levels of dust, noise, vibrations, harmful radiation and dangerous chemical substances.
Projects are accepted every working day in the office of the Working Conditions Fund. All details and application conditions can be found on the fund's official website https://www.mlsp.government.bg/dokumenti-za-kandidatstvane.
Among the good practices in the projects are the implementation of air conditioning and ventilation systems, construction of partition walls, reconstruction and construction of local aspiration devices above the source of dust or hazardous chemical substances. With the implementation of the projects, the lighting of the workplaces has been improved and the risk of occupational accidents has been reduced, noted the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
Through the activities on the diagnosis of occupational diseases, prevention has been strengthened and the culture of health and safety in enterprises has been improved, occupational and health risks in the workplace have been reduced.
In 2022, the Working Conditions Fund co-financed the implementation of projects in 53 enterprises, which improved the working conditions of 4,260 workers and increased their motivation. In some enterprises, between 80% and 100% of the staff are covered.
21.02.2023
WORKERS IN ROMANIA WITH ADDITIONAL PAID BIRTHDAY LEAVE
Workers in Romania have the right to an additional day off on their birthday. This is proposed by 20 senators from the governing coalition, who have already introduced legislative changes to the Labor Code.
People's representatives emphasize the importance of the human factor and its motivation for the functioning of any organization.
"Providing a paid day off on the day each of us celebrates a birthday contributes to the motivation of human resources, regardless of the sphere in which they carry out their activity, public or private. A motivated employee will actively contribute to increasing the efficiency of the relevant organization", the proponents of the project state in their reasons.
They believe that their idea brings other positives. Knowing that he will rest on his birthday, the employee will have the opportunity to meet the holiday in another settlement and use a tourist service, which will bring tax and fee income to the state or local budget.
"The birthday is an annual event in the life of each one of us, and we must offer every employee the opportunity to spend this day as he wishes - alone, with family or with friends," argued the Romanian MPs, quoted by local media.
They highlight the fact that Romanian employees are in first place in the EU in terms of hours worked per week in 2020, according to Eurostat data.
The project will first go to the Senate (the upper house) for discussion, and then to the Chamber of Deputies, which must make the final decision.
20.02.2023
BULGARIA WITH A GAP BETWEEN THE POOR AND THE RICH
In Bulgaria, the difference between the incomes of the richest and poorest people is the largest compared to other EU countries. In our country, the incomes of the richest 20% of the population are 7.5 times higher than the incomes of the poorest 20% of the population, announced the European statistical service Eurostat.
Eurostat does not indicate the reasons for the differences between the incomes of the richest and the poorest. But we can assume that factors such as the amount of pensions and social payments, the amount of the minimum wage and taxes on labor income and dividends have an influence on this difference.
In all EU member states, the 20% of the population with the highest incomes receive more than 30% of the total income in the respective country, Eurostat announced. But Bulgaria is in first place according to this indicator, with the wealthiest 20% of people in the country receiving 46.3% of all income. On average for EU countries, the 20% of the population with the highest incomes receive 38.2% of the income in the respective country.
The closest to us in terms of this indicator are Lithuania and Latvia, where the richest 20 percent take 42.8% and 42.2% of income, respectively. In fourth place is Portugal with 40.7%. In all other EU countries, this percentage is below 40 percent, with Italy in fifth place with 39.9%.
In all EU countries, the 20 percent of the population with the lowest incomes receive less than 10.5% of all income in the country concerned. The poor in Romania receive the least - only 5.6% of all income. In second place is Bulgaria, where the poorest 20% of the population take 6.2% of all income in the country. The third place is shared by Latvia and Spain with 6.4% each. On average for EU countries, the poorest receive 7.9% of all income.
The poorest receive less than 7% of all income in Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, Latvia, Italy and Greece. Only in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland is the share of disposable income received by the poorest above 10%, and close to this level are Belgium (9.9%) and Ireland (9.5%).
Although in Romania the poorest receive a smaller share of income than in Bulgaria, the difference between the poor and the rich is significantly greater in our country.
The reason for this is that in Romania the top 20 percent of people with the highest incomes receive only 39.8% of all income. Thus, the difference between the incomes of the richest 20 percent and the poorest 20 percent in Romania is 7.1 times.
Bulgaria is a record holder in this indicator as well, with a difference between the incomes between the richest and the poorest in the amount of 7.5 times.
Apart from Bulgaria and Romania, in only three other EU countries this difference is over 6 times. These are Latvia (6.1 times), Lithuania (6.6 times) and Spain (6.2 times).
High values of this coefficient indicate significant differences in the distribution of income between groups with higher and lower incomes, according to Eurostat. On average for EU countries, the difference between the incomes of the richest 20 percent and the poorest 20 percent is 4.8 times.
The big difference between the incomes of the richest and the poorest in Bulgaria leads to facts such as the fact that our country is in first place in the EU in terms of new car sales growth, but the average age of cars in the country is the highest compared to others member states.
In addition, deposits in banks are growing, but the biggest growth is in the largest deposits, and people with low incomes are withdrawing money from their deposits to patch up the family budget. Some people have not changed their shopping habits since high inflation, but for others, buying food is already becoming a big problem.
The difference between the incomes of the richest and the poorest is the smallest in Slovakia - only three times. There, the richest 20% take only 31.2% of all income, and the poorest receive 10.3%. The situation is similar in Slovenia, where the difference between the incomes of the poor and the rich is 3.2 times.
Gini coefficient
We are #1 in the ranking of EU countries
Most often, to show the difference between the incomes of the poor and the rich, the Gini coefficient is used. A Gini value of 100% means that only one person receives all the income in the country, while a Gini value of 0% means that the income is distributed equally among the entire population.
The average Gini coefficient for EU countries is 30.1%, Eurostat announced. And Bulgaria is in first place in the EU according to this indicator.
The largest differences in income among EU Member States (with a Gini coefficient of at least 35%) are reported in Bulgaria (39.7%), Latvia (35.7%) and Lithuania (35.4%). Eurostat data show. The second group of Member States with a Gini coefficient above the EU average of 30.1% (ranging from 30.6% to 34.3%) includes Estonia, Germany, Malta, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Romania. At the other end of the ranking are the countries where income is more evenly distributed - Slovakia, Slovenia, Belgium and the Czech Republic, where the Gini coefficient is less than 25%.
They are best in Luxembourg
Our standard is half that of Italy and France
We overtook Romania
Our standard of living is half that of countries like Italy and France. Eurostat calculates purchasing power standards (PPS), which show the level of income, but also take into account the differences between prices in different member states.
On average for the EU countries, the annual disposable income per person is 18,019 PPS, Eurostat announced. The highest standard of living is in Luxembourg, where, despite high prices, the average annual income per person is 32,132 PPS. Bulgaria overtakes Romania in purchasing power of income. In our country, the average income per person is 9375 PPS, and in Romania it is 8703 PPS.
The highest levels of average annual disposable income are registered in the western and northern EU member states, according to Eurostat. The average disposable income per person is over 20 thousand PPS in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Finland and France. Incomes are significantly lower in most southern and eastern Member States. The average disposable income per person is less than 10,000 PPS in Hungary, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania.
Among EU countries, there are significant differences in the contribution of social payments to people's disposable income. The largest social payments are in Luxembourg, Austria and France. In Bulgaria, pensions and other social payments per capita are exactly half of the average level for EU countries.
For people over 65, the inequality is smaller
Pensions among the lowest
Social payments are crucial
The purchasing power of pensions and social payments in Bulgaria is among the lowest in the EU countries, according to Eurostat data. However, among people over the age of 65, income inequality in Bulgaria is less than among the rest of the population.
There are several reasons for this. On the one hand, there is a maximum insurance income in Bulgaria. This means that even if a person receives very high incomes, he pays insurance up to the ceiling, which is currently BGN 3,400, and accordingly has a ceiling on the amount of pensions. In addition, pensions in Bulgaria are extremely low and nearly half of pensioners receive the minimum pension for the country. And there are not many people who receive high pensions.
Despite all this, Bulgaria is among the countries with the largest difference between the incomes of the richest 20 percent and the poorest 20 percent, and among people over the age of 65. In our country, the difference between the incomes of the richest and the poorest people over 65 is 5.2 times, Eurostat data show. According to this indicator, only Latvia (5.7 times), Portugal (5.7 times) and Italy (5.3 times) are ahead of us, and we share the fourth place with Spain, where the difference is also 5.2 times.
For EU countries, people aged over 65 have less income inequality, with the ratio of the incomes of the richest 20 per cent to the poorest 20 per cent averaging 4.2 times. The only exception is Cyprus, where there is greater income inequality among people over 65. And in Portugal, Ireland and Slovenia, there is no difference in income inequality between the over-65s and the rest of the population.
Pensions and other social payments significantly reduce the gap between the incomes of the poorest and the richest. Social payments include all benefits provided by central or local institutions and include, for example, unemployment benefits, sickness and disability benefits, housing benefits, pensions, social assistance and tax credits. Social payments reduce income inequality. On average for EU countries, the Gini coefficient before social payments is 52.2%, and after them it decreases to 30.1%, according to Eurostat data.
The impact of pensions and other social payments on income inequality is particularly large in Germany, the Netherlands and France - where the Gini coefficient decreased by between 25.1 and 29.5 percentage points, and in Sweden, where the coefficient decreased by 30.1 percentage points - from 56.9% to 26.8%. Among EU member states, the lowest impact of pensions and other social payments on income inequality was registered in Latvia (12.5 percentage points). In Bulgaria, social payments also do not have a very large effect on inequality - the Gini coefficient decreases from 54% before social payments to 39.7% after receiving pensions and social assistance amounts.
17.02.2023
SILVERLINE INVESTS BGN 100 MILLION IN BULGARIAN COMPANIES UNTIL THE END OF 2023.
The fund is a reliable source of long-term capital for growth regardless of the economic environment
After the popularity of investments in start-up enterprises, opportunities for financing from a professional investment fund have also been given to companies that have reached a stage of maturity and with ambitions for rapid growth. The Silverline Partners fund already makes direct investments in small and medium-sized Bulgarian companies, which through the appropriate mix of equity and debt financing could realize their potential and growth plans.
Investment goals
The fund invests as a priority in vital industries for the economy with growth potential and ambitious entrepreneurs with proven business models. With these investments, the Silverline team aims to support the establishment of Bulgarian and regional leaders in various industries, helping companies overcome growth challenges and develop their full potential.
The financing aims to support the growth of companies with investments in new geographical areas, new productions and product lines or the acquisition of competitors to establish a leading market position.
The investment aims to purchase new machinery and equipment, establish bases and offices in new geographical areas, attract specialists for business growth, invest in sales and marketing and provide working capital. Part of the invested capital can be used to buy shares from existing partners.
Companies from traditional sectors including manufacturing, trade, logistics, education, healthcare, engineering and others that are export-oriented and have reached a mature stage of development are considered. The fund supports companies with regional and global potential that are looking for financing to implement a business plan and expand their activities.
The investment in each enterprise is from 5 million to 14 million BGN. The investment period is usually from 3 to 8 years depending on the needs of each company.
Criteria
Silverline invests in companies that have a validated business model with solid fundamentals, leadership potential, sustainable competitive advantage and a plan for revenue and profit growth.
An important condition is that the companies are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered in Bulgaria.
Who is who
Silverline Partners is a mezzanine/growth fund. This is the last instrument from the Fund's portfolio of funds for equity and quasi-equity investments, as such it was created for the first time in Bulgaria with public resources. The funds for it are provided under the Operational Program "Innovations and Competitiveness 2014-2020", co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development, as well as by private investors. This instrument fills a market vacuum for the financing of more mature, but equally innovative and dynamic companies, which are characteristic of fund portfolios covering the earlier phase of company development.
By the end of 2023, the fund will support at least 10 small and medium-sized enterprises with investments in the amount of BGN 5 to 14 million, and at least half of the resource will be invested in the form of mezzanine financing.
Financial instruments
Silverline provides alternative-to-bank financing solutions that include mezzanine debt, convertible loans and equity, as well as combinations thereof, providing flexibility in structuring any investment.
With an investment in the form of equity capital, the fund participates in an increase in the company's capital and becomes a shareholder in it. These funds do not have to be returned and the company can use them long-term for the implementation of its business plans. After a period of 3 to 5 years, the fund must exit the investment by selling the shares it owns. A buyer of the shares is usually a strategic investor - a large regional or international company, another fund or, in rarer cases, a sale of the shares through a stock exchange. In many cases, at this point, the company's founder and other shareholders also sell their shares and cash in on their profits from the well-developed business. The goal of the fund is to get a price that is about 3 times the size of the investment made. The other shareholders receive the same profit.
A mezzanine is a form of hybrid investment between equity and debt financing. It enables enterprises to attract risk financing from a professional investor, without necessarily leading to the transfer of a significant share of their property to the new investor. The company receives a venture loan with minimal collateral and a flexible repayment structure to allow it to meet growth targets without incurring principal repayments in the early years, providing free funds to operate the business.
Usually, with mezzanine financing, the term of the transaction is longer compared to bank investment loans, and depending on the specific needs, different terms can be negotiated.
An alternative
Silverline financing tools are an alternative to bank financing that brings more benefits to entrepreneurs and lower risk.
Given the macroeconomic environment, alternative financial instruments of funds are the best and safest source of long-term capital for growth in recessionary conditions. With banks' liquidity diminishing, Silverline's financial instruments provide more opportunities for companies to improve their industry positions in a riskier market environment.
Individual approach
Silverline Capital offers individual investment solutions for each company depending on the business model, industry specifics, financial situation and growth strategy.
The focus is on leading Bulgarian companies operating in various economic sectors. Each company's needs are different, so each investment opportunity is considered individually to offer the best financial solution.
The fund works in partnership with proven entrepreneurs and leading companies with strong competitive advantages and a sustainable business model that have the potential to take a leadership position in their market segments. Applying a personal approach and a methodical investment process, the aspiration is to ensure long-term success and high returns for the companies, entrepreneurs and partners with whom Silverline works.
The team as added value
Silverline Capital was created by investors with significant financial, operational and industrial experience, including Evgeni Angelov, Nikola Dunchev, Diana Aladzova, Lloyd Schultz, Ralitsa Again-Guri. The team has professional expertise in strategic management and venture investing.
Silverline's approach, based on practical experience in managing small, medium and large enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe, the expertise of the team in combination with a validated investment methodology and access to an international partner network give the fund a unique advantage in supporting companies, helping them overcome challenges and develop to their full potential.
The diverse profile of the team allows the fund to contribute to the development of companies both in the direction of strategic planning and in the implementation of acquisitions and the construction of a corporate structure that can take on the expected growth of the business.
You can contact the fund in the following ways:
office@silverlinecapital.net
16.02.2023
THE MINISTRY WITH CLARIFICATIONS ON THE PENSIONS OF PEOPLE WITH TEMC
The payment of disability pensions, foreign aid supplements, social benefits and financial support for disabled people with expired TEMC decisions will be officially resumed by the National Social Security Institute and the Social Assistance Agency in March. This was announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
People who have submitted an application-declaration for re-examination at least three months before the expiration of the term of their expert decision and who were unable to appear at TEMC on time due to a delay in the medical examination will have the right to do so. Social payments will be paid in compliance with the procedures and deadlines stipulated in the regulations, adds the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
The official restoration of the rights of people with disabilities was regulated by changes to the Law on People with Disabilities, which came into force on January 29, 2023. The information about the right holders will be submitted by the Ministry of Health to the National Institute of Health and Social Welfare and Development each month by the 20th. It is not necessary for people to declare it to the institutions.
National Social Security Institute has already informed that the payments of disability pensions and/or supplements for foreign aid will be reimbursed according to the lists provided by the Ministry of Health in the first half of March.
Personal disability pension due to general illness, personal disability pension due to work accident and occupational disease, personal military disability pension, personal civil disability pension, social disability pension, inheritance pension payable will then be restored and continued of persons based on a percentage of permanently reduced working capacity/type and degree of disability determined in an expert decision of TEMC/NEMC, supplement for foreign aid.
The Social Assistance Agency will ex officio resume the payment of social benefits and financial support for people with permanent disabilities with expired TEMC/NEMC decisions. Payments for the month of February will be transferred after March 15 according to the lists of eligible people received from the Ministry of Health.
16.02.2023
WHAT EMPLOYERS HIRING UKRAINIANS SHOULD CONSIDER
Executive Agency "General Labor Inspectorate" uses the occasion in connection with the extension of the temporary protection of Ukrainian citizens by one year to remind that Bulgarian employers who want to hire workers and employees from Ukraine should provide them with the same working conditions with their colleagues from Bulgaria, as they cannot be less favorable than the minimum ones defined in the labor legislation.
The Council of Ministers extended the temporary protection of Ukrainian citizens until March 4, 2024. The adopted decision is in accordance with the Decision of the European Commission on the extension of the Temporary Protection Directive.
With another Decision concerning the approval of the samples of registration cards issued by the State Agency for Refugees under the Council of Ministers, the validity period of the registration cards of foreigners granted temporary protection, expiring until February 24, 2023, is extended until March 31 2023. A new registration card can be issued to them both after and before the expiration of the extended period until March 31, 2023 at the request of the displaced persons from Ukraine.
In terms of labor legislation, the decisions enable employers to continue to easily hire Ukrainian citizens who have received temporary protection in our country. The commitment of the employers to inform the Executive Agency "General Labor Inspection" about the employed Ukrainian citizens, as citizens from third countries, according to Article 10 paragraph 1 of the Law on Labor Migration and Labor Mobility remains.
The Executive Agency "General Labor Inspectorate" has developed, to help Ukrainian citizens looking for work in Bulgaria, a brochure with information on basic labor rights related to working hours, wages, vacations, etc., as well as the documents required to be provided by the employer before starting work, so that they can, if necessary, seek protection of their rights.The brochure is in Bulgarian, Ukrainian, English and Russian.
At the e-mail BGhelp.Ukrainians@gli.government.bg, the experts answer the questions in a timely manner, for this purpose, contacts for feedback should also be indicated.
16.02.2023
HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM FINANCIAL SCAMS
Enormous losses are incurred by companies all over the world that fall victim to financial fraud with a changed International Bank Account Number (IBAN). The organized criminal groups that replace this number are on one continent, the victims - on another, the contractors - on a third, warn cyber police officers in an interview with BTA.
Unfortunately, Bulgarian companies are not an exception, and law enforcement officials dealing with cybercrimes indicate that the attacked part with thousands and even millions of euros, and countering this type of crime is very difficult.
According to a victim, the actual damage figures are even higher because victims don't always complain for a variety of reasons, including because they don't think they can recover their losses. Before that happens, however, awareness can be raised for prevention.
The scheme is not complicated - by means of "phishing" e-mail hackers begin to monitor the business correspondence of a given company with its counterparties from all over the world. When a payment is discussed, hackers intercept the messages and change the bank account number, then the money goes to them.
If your counterparty requests a change of bank account, make sure that the email is genuine, advises Tsveta Ilieva, Head of Department at the Association of Banks in Bulgaria. In an interview with BTA, she commented on the main frauds and how companies can take measures against them.
Check the IBAN on which you send money and always access your electronic banking from the official page of your bank, the expert also advises.
The full text of the interview follows:
- What are fake IBAN scams and how do they work?
- These scams aim to transfer an amount owed to a foreign bank account that is controlled by the criminals, instead of the real one. Most often, they target companies because of the high-value transfers they perform, not so much individuals.
Fraud can be carried out in a variety of ways, with criminals becoming increasingly inventive. For example, pretending to be a supplier or creditor, over the phone or email, trying to trick you into paying an upcoming invoice to a bank account they control. Or pretend to be a company you actually have a relationship with and under the pretext that their bank account has changed, or that they temporarily don't have access to your regular account, get you to transfer money to another account, or ask you to change bank details for future invoices.
A sense of urgency, of urgency, is usually created so as not to give you time to think and check whether in reality things are the way they are presented to you. Often times, fraudsters operate before weekends, holidays, when employees are in a hurry to do their work and their vigilance is reduced. A combination of approaches can also be used - phone call, email, letter, etc.
Sometimes criminals pose as executives in the organization and try to trick employees into paying a fake invoice or making an unauthorized transfer from the company's business account.
Another way of IBAN fraud is through fake bank websites that mimic the authentic bank page and emails that invite you to open such fake sites and make transactions through them. You can become a victim of fraud if you use a fake link to access your online banking, rather than the official link that accesses your bank's banking.
The fake site looks very similar to your bank's page, with the same name, colors and logo, it completely copies the real e-banking page, but it is controlled by criminals who monitor your actions in real time and divert the funds to their bank accounts that translate. It is very difficult for people to imagine that while they are on the screen in front of their computer, at the same time, on another screen, criminals are watching and controlling their every step and at the last moment diverting money to their accounts. But the rapid pace at which every activity is digitized, including banking, creates the conditions for new types of fraud and, accordingly, requires new ways to protect ourselves.
That is why it is very important not to use random links and advertising banners on the Internet to access your banking, but always manually enter the address of your bank's web page in your browser, as well as carefully check the IBAN, that is, the number of the account you are transferring money to when your bank sends you a confirmation message for the transfer you are making.
Another common way criminals can gain access to your bank accounts and control the transfers you make is by having malware installed on your computer, which allows fraudsters to access your online banking. This is most often done through the so-called phishing emails impersonating legitimate companies, through which fraudsters aim to gain access to sensitive personal and banking data. They usually ask you to "verify", "update" or "activate" your account, change or confirm your details and passwords, open links and applications, install software on your computer and mobile phone, under the pretext that if you don't doing so will restrict your access to a service or increase your security.
Many people are deceived because they are afraid of becoming a victim of fraud, and ironically, in doing so, they themselves open the door to criminals and give them access to their bank accounts, believing that what they are doing is for them good. The victim persuasion mechanism is similar to how, until recently, people threw money and valuables from their balconies, believing they were helping the police catch criminals. It is important not to give in to such requests, not to provide by phone, email and SMS any passwords or one-time codes that you receive. Your bank will never ask you for such information.
If we can make a comparison with the analog scams we witnessed years ago, giving your details on the Internet is equivalent to a stranger stopping you on the street and asking to make a copy of your ID or bank card. You wouldn't let him do that, would you? So why do we tend to enter our data all over the internet?
- How could businesses and individuals recognize and protect themselves from this type of fraud?
- If you find yourself in such a situation where you are asked to change bank details for invoices due, it is best that you personally contact or meet, if possible, the representatives of the company with whom you usually work and you know. Do it through the channels you normally use to contact them - phone, email - to check if they really contacted you or if you were the victim of a scam. Check any requests that appear to be from your creditors, especially if they are for changes to their bank details for future invoices. Do not use the contact details from the letter/fax/email requesting the change. Instead, use those from previous correspondence or from the company's official web page.
Instruct employees responsible for paying invoices to always check them for irregularities. Conduct staff training to recognize the most common types of cyber fraud and ensure your employees are informed and aware of these types of fraud and how to avoid them. Create single points of contact with companies to whom you make regular payments. For payments above a certain threshold, create a procedure to confirm the correct bank account and recipient, for example, a video call or other secure contact with the company. When the invoice is paid, send an email to inform the recipient.
Do not respond to suspicious e-mails and do not perform the actions that are described in the e-mail - do not open links and attachments, do not install applications and under no circumstances enter your personal and bank data and especially passwords and access codes.
Do not provide your details either by email or by phone. If they call you on the phone and pretend to be a bank or other company, hang up and contact the company on their official contact details to check if they really wanted you. Be especially suspicious of calls from overseas numbers.
If in doubt, contact your bank and forward the suspicious email to them. Be cautious and suspicious of e-mails written with spelling mistakes and those that require you to take urgent, immediate action. Your bank will never send you such an email, nor will it ask you to enter your personal details and passwords, sensitive information, bank details and credit and debit card details.
It is extremely important when making a bank transfer via e- and mobile banking that you compare the IBAN number, not just the amount, on the confirmation sent to you by the bank. Often times, fraudsters, in order to fool their victims, make an irregular transfer from their accounts at the same time and for the same amount, but to a different bank account. Always check the account number you entered, but which you subsequently received via a bank token to confirm the transaction.
If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud, immediately stop transferring money and contact your bank and the police immediately.
- What would you advise citizens and companies about their safety on the Internet?
- The types of fraud in the Internet space are the most diverse and criminals are becoming more inventive, adapting their methods to the new realities. But there are a few basic rules, and if you follow them, you minimize the possibility of becoming a victim of fraud.
Always access your bank's e-banking from the official website and never from Internet links and advertising banners. They lead to fake pages imitating the real ones and are controlled by fraudsters.
Be suspicious of emails and phone calls from people pretending to be your bank, and those who, for one reason or another, want access to your details. In case you receive such an email, do not perform the actions described in it, do not enter your data or open any links.
If you receive a suspicious work email or phone call, always notify the company's IT department.
Be wary of unsolicited offers by email or phone.
Avoid sharing sensitive information on social media, including information about an employer.
Be suspicious of contacts from dating sites. Do not provide data or send money.
Do not provide your bank account or make money transfers for another person, as this may constitute money laundering and is a crime.
Be suspicious of tempting offers promising safe investments, guaranteed returns and big profits, for example, investment offers or cryptocurrency trading offers. If something is too good to be true, it is most likely just a scam.
On the page of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria, as well as on the banks' web pages, you can find more information about the most common types of fraud, how to recognize them and how to protect yourself from them: https://abanksb.bg/press/ecsm-2021-cyber-scams/
If in doubt, contact your bank immediately.
16.02.2023
ROMANIAN CITIZENS WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ROMANIAN STATE VIEWS THEIR DATA IN THE GOVERNMENT CLOUD
Romanian citizens will be notified when a representative of the Romanian state views their data in the government cloud. Access to the data in the government cloud will be registered and audited, this foresees an approved government decision, announced the minister of digitization Sebastian Burduja.
“This is a very complex piece of legislation, it required 30 opinions and viewpoints, and it addresses several important areas: the principles of the government cloud platform and how the government cloud interacts with clouds provided by private companies; the classified information policy; the type of data belonging to the government private cloud; the type of data that may be in cloud systems provided by private companies; the access to this data, respectively the way in which Romanians will be informed in practice, in real time, when the Romanian state, state institutions examine their data; the interoperability zone and so on," Burduja said.
He emphasized that the data of Romanians will be in a safe, secure place on the territory of Romania in accordance with the criterion of sovereignty of the data of Romanians, which will be implemented by 2026, as indicated in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
"Probably the most important element is interoperability. Last year we passed the Interoperability Act in Parliament. This will allow the migration [of the data] of at least 30 institutions of the Romanian state within the government framework by 2026, and also [the possibility] to apply the "once and only once" principle so that Romanian citizens do not have to go around like fools to the counters of various institutions, the state will ask them for certain information only once, after which the institutions are obliged to exchange the information with each other," said Burduja.
"The administrator of the government cloud is the Digitalization Authority of Romania and its role is very well outlined in this government decision, it is the most important role in the cloud project," Burduja added.
According to him, an important component of the access of the private environment to this cloud is provided. Cyber security is provided by Cyberint, a unit of the Romanian Intelligence Service, with a very clearly defined role in cyber attacks.
"And of course, at the physical infrastructure level, the data centers are under the administration of the Special Telecommunications Service," Burduja added.
As for the migration of the institutions' databases to the government cloud, the Minister of Digitization said that this will happen as a result of an investment of 100 million euros provided under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
15.02.2023
MEASURES FOR WORK AT LOW TEMPERATURES
Employers should take special measures to protect the life and health of workers, and winter temperatures impose additional requirements on employers. They are specified in the Ordinance on the minimum requirements for the microclimate of workplaces.
Organizational and/or technical measures can be taken to minimize the risk to the health and life of workers. For example, changing working hours in order to avoid working in the coldest hours of the day, or introducing more frequent breaks. Other measures may be changing the type of work by assigning one that is safer under given conditions, providing appropriate work clothing and personal protective equipment or collective protective equipment (in this case, those that protect against hypothermia and frostbite). Rooms with conditions for restoring the thermal balance of the body, hot drinks, etc. can also be provided.
It is mandatory to have monitoring or means of communication with outdoor workers in isolated workplaces, as well as first aid and provision for appropriate transportation in the event of a sudden deterioration of health to a medical facility.
The Ordinance on the minimum requirements for the microclimate also describes the optimal and permissible minimum and maximum air temperature values in the cold and warm periods of the year for light, medium and heavy physical work indoors. At low temperatures, the optimal values vary between 16 and 23 degrees, and the permissible ones - from 13 to 25 degrees, with lower temperatures being permissible, respectively, during heavy physical work.
Outdoor work must be suspended during dangerously low or high temperatures, thunderstorms, heavy precipitation, high winds, and dense fog, designated as "orange" or "red" by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, if they pose a threat to life and the health of workers and for the safe performance of work.
Exceptionally, work is not suspended when it comes to work related to the defense of the country. It is not suspended for work related to the prevention of disasters and accidents and for controlling and overcoming their consequences. Also for carrying out urgent socially necessary works to restore water supply, electricity supply, heating, sewage, transport and communication links and providing medical assistance.
If these requirements are not met, inspectors from the General Labor Inspectorate can carry out an inspection and impose a fine of BGN 1,500 to BGN 15,000. In case of a repeated violation, the penalty jumps from BGN 20,000 to BGN 30,000.
Reference:
Ordinance No. RD-07-3 of 18.07.2014 on the minimum requirements for the microclimate of workplaces
15.02.2023
HOW TO TALK TO YOUR BOSS ABOUT YOUR SALARY: 7 USEFUL TIPS
If you feel that you are undervalued at work and literally "plow tirelessly", without raising your head, just for pennies, then the time has come to go to the boss with a conversation about a salary increase.
This is an unpleasant and nerve-racking episode in the life of any employee, so here are some useful tips on how to prepare for an important conversation in order to succeed and keep a stable nervous system. In addition to specialized knowledge, you will need self-confidence and determination to achieve your goal.
What exactly do you want
It is very important to decide in advance, before talking to the manager, what amount you want to receive as a salary increase. When you walk into your boss's office as a confident, calm professional, you'll look weird if you're stumped by the question of your desired salary.
Think about what pay you think is adequate for your efforts and workload, whether you want a 15% raise, another percentage or a specific amount. But of course, before that, realistically assess the data for your field of activity and the industry in general, as well as your company in particular.
If your requests are adequate to the benefits you bring, do not hesitate to express them, after all, your boss should also focus on some specific data and numbers.
Formulate clearly and state the arguments
If your requests are not based only on the desire to change your car to a newer one, but on specific achievements, then be prepared to talk about them in more detail, but still precisely and clearly.
Make a list of your recent successes and results and turn it into a mini presentation with numbers and benchmarking if possible.
Concrete evidence is usually the strongest argument and the most convincing in a series of explanations for the fairness of your claims for decent remuneration.
Demonstrate readiness for a higher workload
If you think your chance to shine is yet to come, prepare a list of tasks you could take on. Take a close look at how the company works and what other employees are doing.
Perhaps you can relieve one of your colleagues a little or combine two positions in the organization. A high salary is not given for "your beautiful eyes", so be prepared for an increase in the workload after a fateful conversation.
Don't give the boss ultimatums
You can blackmail your boss by leaving only if you have full guarantees of employment from another company, where you can immediately go in case of dismissal. Only in a position of iron confidence is it permissible to use an ultimatum as an argument, otherwise you may be left with nothing.
If you overestimate your importance to the company and are not ready for the boss to easily sign your letter of resignation, then it is better not to start dubious manipulations.
Also, the manager, like anyone else, will feel uncomfortable knowing that you are trying to push him into a corner, and regardless of the outcome of the conversation, this will not improve your relationship.
Don't compare yourself to the salary of competitors
As with the previous advice, this approach does not improve your position in the eyes of the boss. In any case, the possibility of earning more in other organizations cannot be your only argument.
A reasonable response on the part of the boss would be to check your professional competences against the needs of competitors.
Only if you are completely sure of your value and the amount of your contribution to the success of the organization, you can analyze the labor market and show your boss offers from other companies.
Choose a time to talk
It is very important to choose the important moment to talk about a salary increase. A good time to do this might be after you have successfully completed a project or other important task for the organization.
For such an important matter, even the right choice of a certain time of the day plays a role: studies show that after a hearty meal, every person becomes more relaxed and friendly.
Consider Plan B
Even if you are well prepared, loaded with convincing arguments and have no doubts about your high value to the organization, there is always a chance that the boss thinks differently or simply does not have the necessary resources at the moment.
Try to honestly answer the question of what you will do in case of refusal. Will you look for another job, try to work even harder, or leave everything as it is?
Consciously answering yourself will help you feel more confident in an important conversation because you will no longer be at a loss and you will be ready for any scenario. Good luck!
