14.12.2022
OVER BGN 70 MILLION WILL BE DIRECTED TO SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION
"Over BGN 70 million is the resource that in the coming years will be directed to the development of social entrepreneurs and innovations in the social economy sector. Through measures that will be implemented through the Recovery and Sustainability Plan and the "Human Resources Development" Program, we will have the opportunity to support social entrepreneurs to digitize processes, increase their competitiveness, access to new markets, ensure employment for people from vulnerable groups.'
This was said by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Nadya Klisurska, during a seminar on "Public policies for the development of social entrepreneurship", organized by the Reach for Change Bulgaria foundation and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy /MLSP/. It was attended by the head of the Managing Authority of the "Human Resources Development" Program, Tsvetan Spasov, and the director of the Directorate "Living Standards, Demographic Policy and Social Investments" at the MLSP, Petar Nachev.
According to Petar Nachev, BGN 26 million has been allocated for the development of social entrepreneurship under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan.
"We tried to identify all the problems and direct the funds in that direction. We will create 6 focus points, each of which will be responsible for certain regions of Bulgaria. A range of services will be offered there, there will be consulting teams that will assist social enterprises in preparing strategies, consultations for applying for project documentation, improving processes in the enterprise," Nachev pointed out.
He emphasized the registration in the Register of Social Enterprises at the Ministry of Social Enterprises, which is important for targeted funding and the best possible support for social enterprises. According to his words, through the implementation of the measures, plans for action and modernization of each company, digitization of processes, equipment with modern software, 3D printers, new production lines will be created.
The creation and equipment of modern areas where entrepreneurs can offer their products will also be financed. The financing under the Recovery Plan also aims to create a platform for online sales, improve forms of communication and international exchanges on the principle of Erasmus programs.
"Among the programs that will be implemented under the "Human Resources Development" program will be the measure "Promoting the social economy at the local and regional level", which will have a budget of 22 million BGN", pointed out Tsvetan Spasov. He explained that the support is due to start in September 2023, with between 50 and 100 existing or emerging social enterprises expected to be supported.
Activities under the measure will include increasing the recognition of social enterprises, stimulating partnership, including representatives of vulnerable groups in training courses, as well as providing subsidized employment for a period of 6 to 24 months.
"In the summer of 2023, the ALMA Youth Initiative will be open for applications and operations, the purpose of which is to provide opportunities for mobility of vulnerable groups to do internships in another European country and then apply what they have learned in Bulgaria," said Spasov.
About 100 representatives of vulnerable groups are expected to be involved in project activities, which include qualification or training courses. They aim to help the internship abroad for a period of 3 to 6 months and inclusion in employment with an employer in Bulgaria. In the coming years, the opening of an operation for direct support of social innovations is also planned. Different models of solving social problems will be developed.
13.12.2022
THE MINIMUM GROSS SALARY IN ROMANIA WILL REACH 3,000 LEI IN 2023, THE ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED
The Romanian government has decided to raise the country's minimum monthly wage to 3,000 lei, with the increase coming into effect on January 1, 2023.
According to a press release of the Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity, the 450 lei increase in the minimum gross salary, which is currently 2,550 lei, represents an increase of 17.6%, but in practice the net salary will increase by 339 lei, and this is an increase of 22.2%.
The hourly rate will be 18,145 lei/hour for a full time schedule of 165,333 hours/month.
13.12.2022
INDICATIVE ANNUAL WORK PROGRAM FOR 2023 UNDER THE "HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT 2021-2027" PROGRAM
The Managing Authority of the Human Resources Development Program has published the Indicative Annual Work Program for 2023 approved by the Monitoring Committee.
12.12.2022
HOW TO GET HEATING ASSISTANCE
The payment of the additional one-time heating aid of BGN 300 voted by the interim government begins. About 50 thousand households are expected to benefit from it.
The money will not be paid to people who have already received targeted heating assistance of BGN 623 or one-time financial support for heating to compensate for increased prices.
The sums will be transferred according to the way requested by the persons - by bank transfer or through the territorial divisions of "Bulgarian Post" EAD.
If people can't get their help in person at the post office, a relative or relative with a notarized power of attorney can do it. Unreceived funds are reimbursed to the state budget.
In case of questions, citizens can contact the relevant territorial directorates "Social Assistance" at the current address. Their contacts can be found at the following email address: https://www.asp.government.bg/bg/kontakti/territorialni-strukturi/.
12.12.2022
AFTER PROTEST: ROMANIA'S PETROMIDIA REFINERY RAISES WORKERS' WAGES
Romanian company Rompetrol has accepted demands for higher wages by protesting workers at its Petromidia oil refinery.
The company agreed to a wage increase in the amount requested by the unions, effective March 1, 2023, to avoid problems with oil production and distribution of refined products in an extremely unfavorable and tense geopolitical context, Rompetrol said in a report. submitted to the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
Hundreds of workers gathered in front of the administration building at the Petromidia refinery in Navodari to protest the company's decision to postpone negotiations for a wage increase until the spring. The unions and the company's management have been negotiating the increase since September, according to Romanian media.
The workers receive an income of about 3,000 lei (610 euros), which is not enough to support their families. Unions emphasize that the work is difficult and dangerous, given the events that can occur during their work. Employees have been waiting 2 weeks for a clear answer from the administration regarding salaries.
After the protest, the employees signed an agreement with the company to increase wages by 1,500 lei (305 euros) effective March 1, and will also receive a bonus totaling 3,000 lei (610 euros) to offset heating bills during the winter months. The refinery employs about 2,000 people.
"I signed the document with the administration to increase the salary from March 1 by 1,500 lei. The protest stopped. I have passed this on to the people. They received 3,000 lei, which is compensation for invoices from December, January, February, 1,000 lei for each month," trade union leader Petre Tankau tells news.ro.
Rompetrol Rafinare is part of the Netherlands-based KazMunayGas International Group (KMGI Group), 100% owned by Kazakhstan's state oil and gas company KazMunayGas. Petromidia, owned by the company, is the largest and most modern oil refinery in Eastern Europe, located on the coast of the Black Sea, near the largest Romanian port - Constanta. The refinery is one of the main producers of petroleum products in Romania and the Black Sea region.
12.12.2022
DESPITE THE LACK OF SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT IS FALLING
The level of registered unemployment in the region fell by one-tenth, but remained twice the national average, which was 4.3 percent in October. This is shown by the analyzes of the Regional Employment Office in Montana.
The unemployment rate in the Montana region is 8.4 percent for October. It remains extremely high in Yakimovo. There, the reported figure is 33.3 percent. They are followed by Valchedrum (26.9 percent), Chiprovtsi (24.1 percent), Boychinovtsi (22.9 percent), Medkovets (20.9 percent). The level rises slightly in Georgi Damyanovo, Yakimovo, Varshets, Brusartsi, Boychinovtsi from 0.1 to 1 percent. It is unchanged in Lom. A decline was registered in the other municipalities. The level in Montana is record low. For the reporting period, the registered rate is 3 percent. This is the lowest indicator in the North-West region.
There are 5,056 people without livelihood in the Montana region. This is 28 people less than a month earlier, despite the end of seasonal employment. The largest drop is in Montana, where the unemployed have decreased by 40 persons. By between four and fourteen people, the number of people without employment in five municipalities has decreased. They increase by between one and 28 people in Georgi Damyanovo, Yakimovo, Varshets, Brusartsi and Boychinovtsi. Unemployed women predominate in all employment offices. Young people under the age of 29 are about 10 percent, except for Lom, where they occupy a share of 15.6 percent. The registered long-term unemployed for over a year are 2,206 people. For the period, they are 24 people less. The problems with this group are serious. More than two out of every three people have no major, half are over 50 years old, and 60 percent have primary or lower education.
During the month, 534 new unemployed were registered, of which 309 were women. That makes almost 58 percent of all. 261 people were released from the private sector. Almost half (46.8%) were fired from the service sector. One in five was laid off from the industrial sphere, and 6.2 percent from agriculture. Jobseekers, employed, students and pensioners have also registered on the exchange.
The unemployed who started work in October numbered 331 people. Every fourth is a youth. 16 percent are people without a livelihood for more than twelve months. Women are over 55 percent.
During the reporting period, 190 vacancies were claimed. The main part of them - 157, are in the real economy. The most advertised jobs are in the manufacturing industry (25.1%), followed by public administration (18.5%), trade, car and motorcycle repair (14%), education (11%), hotels and restaurants (7 .7%), human health care and social work (7%).
An average of nine people competed for each. The competition was greatest in Lom, where there were seventeen candidates for one position. In Berkovitsa, one place was contested by eight citizens, and in Montana by six citizens. During the month, the largest share of those who started working in the public administration sector was 18.5%, followed by those in trade 14.8%, processing industry 13.3%, construction 9.1%, human health care and social work 7.3 per hundred.
The most in-demand occupations during the month are: tailors and ironers, general laborers, assemblers, automated assembly line operators, drivers, salespeople, machine operators, teachers, waiters, kitchen workers, cooks, personal assistants, cashiers, social workers.
In the district in October, 44 people were included in training programs and sixteen in employment measures.
199 unemployed people from the risk groups were appointed to subsidized jobs during the month, 158 under employment programs and measures and 41 under schemes of the Operational Program "Development of Human Resources".
During the month, 39 employed persons were included in trainings, and 36 unemployed and employed persons completed the training started in previous months, having acquired a new profession or key competence.
09.12.2022
BULGARIA HAS THE THIRD LARGEST NUMBER OF START-UP COMPANIES IN SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE
Bulgaria has the third largest number of start-up companies among the countries of South-Eastern Europe and the second most attractive destination for offices of foreign start-ups. This is indicated by the data from the annual report of the Dutch risk capital analysis agency Dealroom "Startups & Venture Capital in South Eastern Europe 2022", presented at an event of the Bulgarian Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA).
According to the study, Bulgaria is third in the number of start-up companies after Romania and Greece and is the absolute leader in the number of venture capital funds – 18 in total, as well as being one of the leading investment hubs for the region, as local funds direct resources for growth not only to local companies, but also to promising startups in Romania, Greece, Serbia, Croatia, etc.
The analysis includes the names of a number of capital companies of Bulgarian founders, as well as the names of foreign companies that have chosen Sofia as their next office location. Among them are the first Bulgarian unicorn Payhawk, Gtmhub, Dronamics, Spark, Nexo, Hyperscience, The Recursive, Software Group, Alcatraz AI, Nuvei, Paysafe, Hopper and many more, notes the Capital Municipal Agency for Privatization and Investments (Invest Sofia).
The report also notes that VC investment in startups in the eleven countries now exceeds US$1.3 billion. This is an all-time record and more than the previous three years combined. For Bulgaria specifically, venture capital directed at homegrown companies has reached USD 251 million over the past 18 months, which is more than any previous period since 2012.
08.12.2022
A FAMILY WITH TWO CHILDREN SAVES BGN 1,200 FROM TAXES
Working parents could receive hefty sums on top of their December paychecks under the new Child Tax Credit rates.
The NRA reminds that for the income received in 2022, they reimburse through employers BGN 600 per parent of one child, BGN 1,200 for two children and BGN 1,800 for three or more children. For raising a child with disabilities, the relief is increased by another BGN 1,200 per child.
These funds are received with the December salary, if during the year the parents did not use the advance tax discount. This option was introduced in the middle of the year, but it was poorly promoted, so parents are expected to request the relief en masse in December. For this purpose, they must submit an application from December 1 to 31 to their employers. In this case, the employer can refund the tax until the end of January 2023.
The other option remains in effect - to request the relief from the NRA together with this year's income tax return, which must be submitted by the end of April 2023.
In order to benefit from the tax relief, the natural person (including a sole trader) must have received income subject to annual taxes in 2022, the NRA recalls. People who only have income such as maternity benefit or those subject to final or patent tax cannot take advantage of child tax relief. If one parent falls into this category, the other can claim the tax discount if he meets the conditions, added the NRA.
One of the most important requirements for the application of the reliefs is that the parents do not have arrears for taxes, insurances, fines for which there is a decision for enforcement. The NRA advises citizens to check their tax liability account online with a personal identification code before applying for tax relief to avoid inconvenience.
08.12.2022
NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY INSTITUTE STOPS ISSUING SANATORIUM CERTIFICATES
The territorial divisions of the National Social Security Institute will issue certificates for prevention and rehabilitation until December 20, 2022 inclusive, announced the National Social Security Institute.
The last date on which the eligible persons can enter the contractors of the prevention and rehabilitation activity is December 21, 2022.
The actions to terminate the prevention and rehabilitation program for this year are necessary, since the contracts concluded with the contractors of the prevention and rehabilitation activities are due on 31.12.2022.
This year, the program started on April 1. Currently, there are 42,145 issued certificates for the use of financial aid for prevention and rehabilitation.
07.12.2022
WHAT IS AN ADEQUATE MINIMUM WAGE
After the successful completion of the inter-institutional meetings in the summer and the final vote of approval by the European Parliament (voting in the Plenary session on 14.09.2022) and the Council of the European Union (on 04.10.2022), the final text of the Directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union. Under what conditions will the normative act be applied and to whom does it apply?
During the almost two-year period of negotiations on the Directive, started by the Commission on October 28, 2020, the two co-legislative institutions made substantial changes to the initial version of the normative act. The corrected texts generally upgrade the Commission's vision regarding the process of determining and updating the statutory minimum wages in the member states of the European Union, including Bulgaria, but are also expected to facilitate the collective bargaining process in the European countries.
The applicability of the normative document will apply to all workers and employees who have an employment contract or are in an employment relationship. Attempts to exclude certain groups (such as maritime workers) from the scope of the Directive have thus been effectively thwarted.
In the adopted Directive, the concept of "living wage" failed to establish itself as a reference value to be taken into account for assessing the purchasing power of the minimum wage. However, Member States should take "living standards" into account when setting or updating the minimum wage.
Among the other mandatory criteria that should be taken into account are the general level of wages and their distribution, the growth rate of wages, the long-term tracked national productivity levels and their development. That is why each country can define other criteria that correspond to its socio-economic context, to be formulated together with the social partners.
The pitfall that may hinder the effective enforcement of the "living wage" as a guide to the necessary funds that the minimum wage should provide is the express entry in the Directive according to which States are entitled to assign a different relative weight to each of the criteria, used to determine or update the minimum wage.
The request of trade unions across Europe to assess the adequacy of statutory minimum wages by relating them as 60% of the gross median wage and 50% of the gross average wage (covering the so-called double threshold) was achieved through a specific entry in the Directive. In this way, the ratio is recognized as an important reference for the States, despite the pressure of the Council to write it only in the recitals of the Directive. The place of the social partners should certainly be emphasized in the selection of the indicative reference values for assessing the adequacy of the statutory minimum wages.
Reference:
DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on adequate minimum wages in the European Union
