25.01.2023
THE APPLICATION FORM FOR STARTUP WORLD CUP 2023 IS ACTIVE
According to various rankings regarding the startup climate in Bulgaria, our country is at the forefront of the Balkan Peninsula and the trends for 2023 continue to be optimistic. Interest in startups is growing, and so are the opportunities before them.
On January 12, the application form for the Startup World Cup Bulgaria 2023 competition was officially opened for the third time in a row, and any startup company can apply absolutely free of charge. In addition to the opportunity for promotion, the broadcast winner of the national qualifiers will also win the right to represent our country at the world finals in America. There, it will compete with more than 60 award-winning startup companies from around the world and compete for the grand prize of $1 million.
The second edition of the national competition was organized in partnership with the Bulgarian Development Bank, and at the world final our country was represented by the startup companies Daye and Office RnD, which are the awarded startups for 2022 and 2021, respectively. As winners of the national qualifiers, the two companies won their plane tickets to America, kindly provided by an official event partner.
Besides the chance to win the grand prize, the two startups got the opportunity to present themselves and their ideas to the general public. We had the opportunity to present ourselves for 2 minutes in the semi-final and for 1 minute in the final stage. We met many companies with great missions and products and exchanged experiences with their teams. We are happy that since September, Daye has attracted an investment of 11.5 million dollars, shared Kalina Mihaylova, Product Development Manager at Daye.
The final in San Francisco was a great experience. In general, Startup World Cup Bulgaria was very useful to position ourselves even better on the Bulgarian market as one of the most successful startups and to declare ourselves as a very serious employer. noted Miro Miroslavov of OfficeRnD.
Startup World Cup Bulgaria is organized by Internet Media Group, with the support of the European Association of Digital Experts (EURODEA) and Pegasus Tech Ventures, organizer of the Startup World Cup global finals. The official award ceremony will take place on June 9 in Sofia, and applications will remain open until May 20.
24.01.2023
PROJECTS FOR THE DISABLED ARE FINANCED WITH UP TO BGN 100,000
The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy has started the campaign for recruiting project proposals that will be financed under the National Program for Accessible Housing and Personal Mobility of People with Disabilities in 2023. Documents can be submitted from January 23 to April 24.
Under Component 1 "Accessible living environment", people with disabilities can apply with proposals for the construction and installation of ramps, lifting platforms and elevators. Each approved project will be financed with up to BGN 100,000 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. In cases where the value of the projects is higher, the applicants will be able to co-finance the implementation of the eligible activities.
Homeowners who are permanently disabled and use wheelchairs, with a permanent or current address in the same building, can apply for the component.
Eligible applicants are also condominium owners' associations in multi-family residential buildings where there are people with permanent disabilities, wheelchair users, with a permanent or current address in the same building.
The approved projects under Component 2 "Personal Mobility" will be financed with up to BGN 8,000. The funds will be allocated for the conversion of a car for a person with permanent disabilities, installation of an assistive device or a device for loading and unloading a wheelchair in a motor vehicle, as well as for the purchase of a car with an already performed modification. Applicants will also be able to receive funds for a driving course.
The right to apply under the second component is for people with permanent disabilities, with a proven deficiency of lower and/or upper limbs and a decision of the medical examination authorities, who have a document that they are physically fit to be drivers.
Detailed information on the conditions and application documents for the two components can be found on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy www.mlsp.government.bg in the heading "Policies", category "People with disabilities", section: "National Program for affordable housing and personal mobility" or at the following link: https://www.mlsp.government.bg/natsionalna-programa-za-dostpna-zhilishchna-sreda-i-lichna-mobilnost-1
24.01.2023
WHAT TO DO IF THE ATM HOLDS YOUR CARD?
What to do if we decide to withdraw money from an ATM, but the machine has kept our card.
Here are some useful tips for consumers, provided by the experts of the Consumer Protection Commission. They are related to how to act in some unforeseen and rather unpleasant situations that can cost us valuable time and financial losses.
The card can be "swallowed" by the ATM for several reasons. After you enter your pin code, you have a specific time in which to collect it from the ATM. If you slow down, he automatically retracts it. Another reason could be that your card has expired. When it is damaged or demagnetized, this can also cause the ATM to take it away, as well as when you enter the wrong pin code three times - then the card is automatically blocked and the ATM takes it away.
When the machine is malfunctioning, it can also "swallow" the card. The first thing to do if this happens is to find out if the ATM that took your card is located at a bank branch or not. If the ATM is located next to a bank branch, go into the bank and ask them to return your card.
You'll probably need to show ID and fill out a form, but you'll get your card right away. If the card is not returned to you immediately, it will be sent to the bank branch to which it was issued. If the ATM is not located next to a bank branch and is owned by a bank other than yours, you must call your bank to block the card.
Also call the bank servicing the ATM to let them know what's happening. If this is the case, you will receive your card with some delay. It will take longer for the bank servicing the ATM to send the card to your bank. If the ATM is not located next to a bank branch and is owned by the bank serving you, call them to explain how to get your card.
If the machine does not give you banknotes, the most important thing is to find out whether the transaction was reported or rejected as unsuccessful and the withdrawal attempt did not affect your account balance. Call the call center of the bank that issued your card as soon as possible. The number is usually written on the back of the card. If you are unable to contact the bank, visit the nearest branch on the first working day and file an objection.
You should know that in case of illegal withdrawal from your account, you have a chance to recover the lost amounts. For this purpose, you should again contact the bank with an objection regarding the problem that has arisen and get its opinion. By law, it is required to respond to the objection within 14 days of the date you submitted it. If the answer from the bank does not satisfy you, you can turn to the Conciliation Commission for Payment Disputes operating under the Consumer Protection Commission for assistance.
The Commission for Consumer Protection reminds us to keep in mind that withdrawing money from external ATMs in resorts poses greater risks of theft. It is possible that skimming devices are placed somewhere to copy the data from your card and steal the pin code. According to experts, these are also one of the most common plastic frauds.
"Be careful and follow all the rules for your financial security, both when transacting amounts from ATM and POS terminal devices, and when the card is lost or stolen," warns the commission.
24.01.2023
MINISTRY OF INNOVATION AND GROWTH: IN FEBRUARY, WE OPEN THE PROCEDURE FOR RES AND LOCAL ENERGY STORAGE FOR BGN 200 MILLION
In February, the application under the "RES and batteries for local energy storage" procedure, worth BGN 200 million, will start. It is the third that the Ministry of Innovation and Growth opens under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This was made clear by Maria Mladenova, head of the "Project Selection and Negotiation" department at the General Directorate of "European Competitiveness Funds" in the ministry.
The public discussion of the procedure was announced on December 12 and ended a month later - on January 12. The companies' application will last for three months. The measure is for the construction of a photovoltaic system - so-called solar panels, to be installed on the roof of the given enterprise, its facade or on the terrain on which it is located. Batteries for local energy storage will be able to store it for up to several days, and the energy itself will be produced solely and only for own use, without being able to be resold and returned to the country's energy system.
In addition to micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, but also those employing up to 499 persons or up to 1,500 persons will be able to apply under the procedure. "We expect that the interest in the "RES and batteries for local energy storage" procedure will be even greater than that in the two already completed procedures in the ministry," said Maria Mladenova. According to her, to date, under the two announced procedures, over 10,200 projects have been received in just 5 months.
Over 2,500 project proposals have been received under the first - "Technological modernization", and over 7,700 projects under the second - "ICT solutions and cyber security". "There is serious interest on the part of companies in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, apart from Sofia, there is also Plovdiv, Varna and Ruse. We hope that the other districts will also become more and more active," Mladenova said. She pointed out that the application under the procedures of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and those of the EU structural funds is entirely online through the ISUN 2020 system, which is as easy as possible for businesses. On December 30, the first winning projects were announced - 953 projects, which will receive funding for BGN 260 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the "Technological Modernization" procedure. At the moment, nearly 7,700 submitted projects under the second measure "ICT solutions and cyber security" worth BGN 30.6 million are also being evaluated. It is expected that the winners will be announced soon.
Under the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, seven procedures for BGN 1.2 billion will be open for applications in the first half of 2023 alone, and a total of 10 business measures will be launched by the end of the year. Support for micro, small and medium-sized companies in the country will be in three directions - the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the new competitiveness program and the new program for scientific research, innovation and digitalization. We would like to remind you that both European programs of the Ministry were approved in a record short period of time. The "Competitiveness and Innovations in Enterprises" program 2021-2027 with a budget of BGN 3 billion was sent to Brussels on August 16 and approved by the European Commission on October 3.
Program "Research, innovation and digitization for intelligent transformation" 2021-2027 with a budget of BGN 2.14 billion - sent on October 26 and approved on December 5. The first procedures that will be launched under the new program for competitiveness and innovation in enterprises are "Development of innovations in small and medium-sized enterprises" for BGN 127 million in March and "Implementation of innovations in SMEs" for over BGN 293 million. in April. On the initiative of the Minister of Innovation and Growth and with the active assistance of the team of Deputy Prime Minister Pekanov, information was collected and summarized from other ministries (Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Education and Science) about the procedures under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan among them, which has been sent to all regional governors in the country.
23.01.2023
WE MAY CHANGE OUR TYPE OF INSURANCE BY THE END OF THE MONTH
Self-insured persons can change the type of insurance until January 31, the National Revenue Agency reminds. Self-insured persons are necessarily insured in the "Pensions" fund of the state social insurance (DOO), and they can also be insured in the "General illness and maternity" fund at their choice.
Self-insured persons who choose to make insurance contributions also to the "General illness and maternity" fund can benefit from all insured social risks (excluding occupational accidents and occupational diseases and unemployment) of the state social insurance DOO. The other option is to make insurance contributions at a lower rate only to the Pension Fund of the the state social insurance (for disability due to general illness, old age and death).
In this case, however, the self-insured do not have the right to cash benefits for temporary incapacity due to general illness, pregnancy and childbirth, for raising a child up to 2 years of age, for raising a child up to 8 years of age from the father (adoptive), etc. , paid by the state social insurance, the NRA reminds.
The type of insurance for self-insured persons can be changed for each calendar year, if a declaration is submitted according to a form approved by the executive director of the NRA. The deadline for submitting the document is January 31 of the respective year. The declaration is submitted in an office of the National Revenue Agency or through the e-services of the revenue agency with a personal identification code or a qualified electronic signature.
In case of interruption and resumption of the relevant work activity, as well as when starting another work activity by the self-insured person during the calendar year, the already selected and declared type of insurance cannot be changed.
You can get more information and advice on filling out tax and insurance declarations by phone: 0700 18 700 or 02 9859 6801 (at a price according to the telephone operator's tariff).
23.01.2023
THE MINISTRY OF INNOVATION AND GROWTH OPENS 7 PROCEDURES TO SUPPORT BUSINESS FOR BGN 1.2 BILLION IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2023
The Ministry of Innovation and Growth informs about the application procedures under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and EU structural funds.
On 30.12.2022, the Ministry published on its website the first 953 companies that will be financed under the first measure of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan - "Technological Modernization" with a budget of BGN 260 million. It is for the renovation of the technological park of micro -, small and medium enterprises. By the end of January - the beginning of February, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth will publish the companies that have won funding and under the second measure of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan - "ICT solutions and cyber security", under which the assistance is free of charge and without financial participation from the companies.
"Alone through the Ministry, in the next six months we are opening for applications seven, and by the end of the year, three more procedures (ten in total) in three areas - the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the new Program "Competitiveness and Innovations in Enterprises" 2021-2027 and the new for Bulgaria Program "Research, innovation and digitalization for intelligent transformation" 2021 - 2027. This is a financial injection of over BGN 1.2 billion for the first six months and nearly BGN 2 billion by the end of 2023 for enterprises", commented Minister Pulev.
From his words, it is clear that in February one of the procedures most awaited by the business will be opened - "RES and batteries for local energy storage" (for companies) with a budget of BGN 200 million.
20.01.2023
SEE ALL VACANCIES THROUGHOUT THE NORTHWEST
The Employment Agency publishes a complete list of all vacancies in the North West, advertised in the Labor Office directorates.
The biggest hunger for personnel is in the Vratsa region. 75 positions are offered on the job market, and there are both in production and trade, as well as in industry and administration.
In Montana, employees are being sought in 71 positions, and in Vidin the number of vacant positions is half that - only 38.
Vratsa
Montana
Vidin
20.01.2023
NEW YEAR, NEW CHANCE FOR REALIZATION! ENROLLMENT FOR A PROGRAMMING COURSE IN MONTANA HAS BEGUN
For the second year in a row, Montana Digital Society organizes a Java programming course for complete beginners. Registration for it is now open and will continue until February 3. Those interested can apply on the Digital Society website.
The course is suitable for both students and adults, without any experience in programming, who have decided to retrain and become part of one of the fastest growing fields. It is divided into three modules, in which the emphasis will be on practical activities and insight into the essence of the technology. Classes will be held twice a week at a time convenient for students and workers.
The knowledge and skills that the students will acquire during the training will enable anyone with sufficient desire and time to have a promising job with a motivating salary, and that too in Montana.
The best performers will have the chance to start an internship with a software company. Scholarships are also provided for motivated and excellent students.
The lecturer will be Stefani Senkova - one of the programmers from the first graduating class of Digital Society Montana. The training helped her realize her dream and she is currently working as a Java developer in a leading software company in the region.
The course is organized in partnership with the Vratsa Software Society. For seven years now, they have been offering training in programming and other digital professions, thanks to which hundreds have found their new careers and are developing successfully in the field of technology.
20.01.2023
HOW MANY WERE UNEMPLOYED IN OUR COUNTRY IN THE PAST YEAR
The registered unemployed in the labor offices throughout the country for the past year 2022 are 264,434, and those who have started work - 164,426 people.
This is indicated by the preliminary data from the specialized monitoring of the labor market of the National Statistical Institute and the Employment Agency. In the last week of last year, the newly registered unemployed were 1,488 people.
The observation of the labor market for last year shows the trends by area and by week for the period January 3, 2022 - January 1, 2023, and according to the latest data, the population of working age is slightly over 4 million and 106 thousand people.
Throughout the past year, there has been a tendency for the newly registered unemployed to outnumber those employed, with the only exception being the week from June 27 to July 3. At that time, those who found a living through the employment offices were a little over 10,000 people and were twice as many as registered.
The peak of those registered in the labor offices for the past year was 8,798 people - for the period from January 3 to 9. In total, in four weeks of 2022, newly registered people exceeded 8,000 people. The data show that for the last week of last year, from December 26 to January 1, 2023, 744 people entered the workforce, and the largest number of them - 64 - were in the Blagoevgrad region.
19.01.2023
WE ARE WORKING IN THE BLACK - WHAT CAN WE DO?
Workers and employees can check how likely it is that their work, or part of it, is undeclared, and get guidance on how to react if a risk of undeclared work is identified.
Employers can also check how well they are enforcing labor laws and address inconsistencies before being inspected on-site.
This is possible thanks to innovative software developed under the international project "Cooperation for decent work", financed by the Fund for Bilateral Relations under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014 - 2021.
The self-assessment tool is freely available on the website of the Executive Agency "Main Labor Inspection", which is a partner in the project, at https://www.gli.government.bg/udw/ A shortcut to it is also provided through the banner " Check if you are working undeclared".
The software is a questionnaire that assesses the risk of undeclared work in its various directions - work without an employment contract or under fictitious conditions, unregulated payments, are the lives and health of workers at risk, etc.
By filling out the questionnaire, the worker receives answers to the extent that his labor rights are respected, what the consequences would be for him of the alleged violations by his employer, as well as guidelines in which cases he has reason to seek assistance from the control authorities.
In order to perform the self-assessment, a questionnaire must be completed, which contains questions regarding general demographic information and assessed risks. There is an option to review the entered answers and then save them by pressing the "Save" button.
The rating page is activated after saving. It shows a recommendation after each question depending on the answer. At the bottom of the page is shown the overall rating and recommendations for it (with a "traffic light principle" background).
Specific individuals cannot be identified through the information collected.
The purpose of the data is to better inform workers and employees about the degree of individual risk of undertaking undeclared work, and in a processed form will serve to improve the information and control activities of the Executive Agency "Main Labor Inspectorate" with emphasis on dealing with undeclared work.
According to various studies and estimates, undeclared work in our country is about 30 percent. It is increasingly rare to find it in its purest form – work without any contract.
Most often, the forms of contracts with so-called fictitious clauses are already used - shorter working hours than actually worked or lower remuneration than actually received are agreed in writing. Thus, part of the money is given by hand, without taxes and insurance being paid on it.
Secondly, the practice of not paying overtime is applied, as well as the use of disguised employment contracts - that is, a civil contract is concluded in the presence of employment relationships, which also reduces the costs for both parties for taxes and insurance.
The labor inspectorate warns workers that when they do not agree in writing the real conditions under which they work, they lose their employment and insurance rights. If necessary, they also cannot prove the conditions under which they really worked and risk not being able to obtain protection from the control authorities or in court.
Employers, for their part, risk being sanctioned, and due to poor working conditions, they also lose qualified labor.
