04.10.2022
MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES REMAIN THE MOST COMMON WORK-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEM
"Musculoskeletal disabilities remain the most common work-related health problem in Europe. That is why it is necessary to unite the efforts of all interested parties for the prevention of the disease in the workplace". This was said by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Policy Lazar Lazarov at a national conference on "Healthy workplaces - lighten the load". The forum is organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy as the National Focal Point of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. The conference is organized within the framework of the European campaign dedicated to risk management and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries at work.
In his welcome, Minister Lazarov cited data from the sixth European survey of working conditions, which shows that millions of workers across Europe suffer from work-related musculoskeletal injuries, and three out of five workers in the EU complain of such ailments. "A third of workers with a musculoskeletal disability or other health problem think they will not be able to continue to do their job into their 60s. This inevitably reduces their quality of life and their capacity to work, reduces the competitiveness of businesses and economies and contributes to the largest share of lost working days in the EU," the Minister of Labor and Social Policy pointed out. Disabilities increase society's costs of treatment, rehabilitation and employment, he added.
Minister Lazarov emphasized that cooperation between employers, managers and workers, as well as the development of social dialogue, will lead to an increase in awareness of the problem and to ensuring a higher level of protection for workers. He also emphasized the importance of the role of employers in taking timely measures to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
According to the European Enterprise Survey on New and Emerging Risks 2019 (ESENER), the most commonly identified risk factor for the occurrence of such problems in the EU-27 is repetitive hand or wrist movement, reported by 65% of enterprises. Other risks are prolonged sitting (61%), lifting or moving people or heavy loads (52%), time pressure (45%) and tiring or painful work positions (31%).
03.10.2022
MORE AND MORE JOBS IN THE RES SECTOR
Global jobs in renewable energy sectors reached 12.7 million last year, a jump of 700,000 new jobs in a year, with China accounting for 42 percent of global total employment.
The report, titled "Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2022" and published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO), shows that almost two-thirds of all these jobs are in Asia.
China alone accounts for 42 percent of the total global share, followed by the EU and Brazil with 10 percent each. The report also shows that solar energy is the fastest growing sector. Francesco La Camera, Director General of IRENA, said that "in the face of numerous challenges, renewable energy jobs remain resilient and have proven to be a reliable driver of employment creation".
03.10.2022
PROTECTION FROM DISMISSAL IF WE HAVE AN ILLNESS
Bulgarian legislation regulates the protection in the event of dismissal of certain categories of workers and employees working under an employment relationship. The Labor Code establishes the so-called "preliminary protection" in case of dismissal. It is preliminary because it precedes the execution of the dismissal. Its purpose is to make the execution of the dismissal dependent on obtaining prior authorization from a certain state or trade union body, and only after obtaining this authorization can the dismissal be carried out. This permission is requested in writing from the employer and must be obtained in writing from the competent state or trade union authority. If such permission is not sought, or after it has been sought, is not given at all, or is not given before the dismissal, the dismissal on that ground alone is unlawful.
The protective procedure is a precondition that the employer is obliged to comply with when dismissing the workers specified by law. Prior authorization for dismissal means the consent or refusal to allow the dismissal to take place by a competent state or trade union body. This body is the relevant regional labor inspectorate and the relevant trade union body
The law in Bulgaria states that workers or employees suffering from any of the following diseases have protection in the event of dismissal:
In order to comply with the procedure, the enterprise collects preliminary information from the workers who are designated for dismissal, whether they suffer from the listed diseases.
Workers who suffer from the diseases mentioned above are obliged, upon request, to submit to the enterprise medical documents (epicrisis, medical certificate, etc.) from the medical and preventive facilities where they are treated or taken to a dispensary report. The enterprise submits the received medical documents to the relevant territorial expert medical committee (TEMC) for an opinion.
The enterprise sends to the relevant Labor Inspection Directorate a written request for permission for each worker or employee designated for dismissal, and in individual cases the institution takes the opinion of TEMC before making a decision.
Reference:
Art. 333 of the Labor Code
Art. 1, para. 1 of Ordinance No. 5 of 20.02.1987 on diseases for which workers suffering from them have special protection according to Art. 333, para. 1 of the Labor Code
30.09.2022
EMPLOYMENT INCOME IN THE EU IS APPROACHING PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS
Last year, the average disposable income of households in the European Union increased by 3.6 percent compared to 2020. Employment income has increased sharply across all quintiles (parts) of the population, but remains, albeit slightly, below pre-pandemic levels, while the at-risk-of-poverty ratio remains flat. This is indicated by the early estimates of the European statistical agency Eurostat, published today on its website.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a significant reduction in economic activity, with some business sectors temporarily closed, leading to an unprecedented increase in absentee or part-time workers. As a result, employees suffered losses in their employment income and governments were forced to introduce temporary support schemes to offset the impact of a crisis.
Early projections for 2021 show positive developments in the income distribution and significant growth for low-income households. This is in line with the main trends in the labor market and the significant reduction in the number of workers affected by the temporary disease control measures. In addition, social protection schemes aimed at stabilizing wages and household income continued to be implemented in many Member States.
The at-risk-of-poverty ratio remains unchanged
The level of at-risk-of-poverty in the EU has maintained its values in 2021, but the situation varies across member states, especially when cumulative effects are assessed, says Eurostat's early assessment.
In 2021, 95.4 million people in the European Union, equivalent to 21.7 percent of its population, were at risk of poverty and social exclusion, Eurostat previously informed.
This means that these people were exposed to at least one of the three social risks associated with poverty and social exclusion - they were at risk of poverty, severe material and social deprivation or lived in a household with very low economic activity (people of working age in this household worked 20 percent or less of the normal number of working hours), the EU statistics office notes.
Bulgaria ranks second among the EU countries in terms of this indicator. Last year, 32 percent of the people in our country were exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion, Eurostat data showed earlier this month.
Compared to pre-pandemic 2019, in 2021 among the Union countries for which data are available, 5 registered an increase in the poverty level, of which 4 were statistically significant: Greece, Croatia, Latvia and the Netherlands.
In 11 EU countries, the poverty level is unchanged, and in another 7 it has decreased: Finland, Cyprus, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden and Bulgaria.
30.09.2022
THE IMPORTANT THINGS WHEN WORKING ON A TERM EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
Fixed-term employment contracts are those whose content has a precisely defined or determinable term. The various fixed-term employment contracts are comprehensively listed in Art. 68, para. 1, items 1 - 5 of the Labor Code. In Art. 68, para. 2 of the Labor Code provides that employees under a fixed-term employment contract under Art. 68, para. 1 of the Labor Code have the same rights and obligations as employees under an employment contract for an indefinite period of time. They cannot be placed at a disadvantage only because of the fixed-term nature of their employment relationship compared to employees under an employment contract for an indefinite period who perform the same or similar work in the enterprise, unless the law places the exercise of certain rights in depending on the qualification held or the skills acquired.
When there are no workers and employees employed in the same or similar work, workers and employees under a fixed-term employment contract cannot be put in a more unfavorable position than other workers and employees who work under an employment contract for an indefinite period. When an employment contract is concluded for a certain period on the basis of Art. 68, para. 1, item 1 of the Labor Code, this may be for the performance of temporary, seasonal or short-term activities or exceptionally - for works and activities that do not have a temporary, seasonal or short-term nature.
According to Art. 68, para. 3 of the Labor Code fixed-term employment contract under Art. 68, para. 1, item 1 is concluded for the performance of temporary, seasonal or short-term works and activities, as well as with newly hired workers and employees in enterprises declared bankrupt or in liquidation. In para. 4 of Art. 68 of the Labor Code, it is regulated that, exceptionally, a fixed-term employment contract under Art. 68, para. 1, item 1 for a period of at least one year may be concluded for works and activities that are not of a temporary, seasonal or short-term nature. Such an employment contract can also be concluded for a shorter period at the written request of the worker or employee. In these cases, the fixed-term employment contract under Art. 68, para. 1, item 1 with the same worker or employee for the same job may be re-contracted only once for a period of at least one year.
It should be borne in mind that according to Art. 68, para. 5 of the Labor Code employment contract under Art. 68, para. 1, item 1, concluded in violation of para. 3 and 4 of the same provision, is considered concluded for an indefinite period.
30.09.2022
WHY IS CLOUD HOSTING GOOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
When it comes to hosting, the cloud is becoming increasingly popular for businesses. And it's no wonder why. Cloud hosting offers a number of benefits that can be extremely beneficial for businesses of all sizes.
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29.09.2022
THE EBRD PREDICTS A SLOWDOWN IN ECONOMIC GROWTH IN BULGARIA NEXT YEAR
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has revised upward its forecast for Bulgaria's economic growth in 2022, but at the same time it already expects a sharper slowdown in growth in 2023.
In its September report, the EBRD expects that our country's GDP will grow this year by 3.0%, following a May forecast of 2.5% expansion and after an expansion of 4.2% in 2021.
This notable upward revision is due to the fact that the Bulgarian economy grew sustainably in the first half of 2022 by 4.5% year-on-year, driven by strong business stockpiling as well as good private and government consumption.
Personal consumption increased in the first six months of 2022 by 4.2% year-on-year, but the EBRD noted that the upward momentum had waned amid rising inflation and declining consumer confidence. At the same time, investment in the country fell sharply in the second quarter as businesses faced increased uncertainty, with investment 14% below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.
Nevertheless, industrial production in Bulgaria increased in the first half of the current year by almost 17% year-on-year, and it remained stable, despite the suspension of Russian gas from the end of April 2022.
The EBRD said inflation had worsened significantly, reaching 17.3% year-on-year in July 2022 and above 20% in food, utilities and housing, transport, restaurant and hotel prices.
The government's main measure against rising energy costs is the full compensation of companies' electricity bills at electricity prices above 125 euros/MWh (over BGN 250 per megawatt hour).
Households in the country were protected by regulated electricity prices and pensions were increased by 10% in July 2022.
However, the ongoing political crisis could delay the absorption of the second payment of the EU's Recovery and Resilience Plan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has warned.
Thanks to the economy's solid performance in the first half of the year, GDP growth was revised upwards for the whole of 2022 to 3 percent from the EBRD's May forecast of 2.5 percent economic expansion.
Uncertainty about gas supplies, weakening domestic and external demand amid high inflation and deteriorating confidence, as well as political uncertainty, could however lead to a sharp slowdown in economic growth in Bulgaria in 2023 to 1.5% at EBRD's previous May forecast for expected expansion next year of 3 percent.
29.09.2022
THE EC ASKED US TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM INCOME SCHEME
The European Commission is calling on Member States to modernize their minimum income schemes as part of the ongoing commitment to reduce poverty and social exclusion in Europe. The proposed Council Recommendation on Adequate Minimum Income Guaranteeing Active Inclusion sets out how Member States can modernize their minimum income schemes to make them more effective, which will eradicate poverty while promoting the labor market integration of these , which can work.
Minimum income is payments of money that help needy households reach a certain level of income that allows them to pay their bills and lead a decent life. They are particularly important in times of economic downturn, as they help mitigate the effects of declining household incomes for the most deprived, thus contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth. These cash payments are usually supplemented by benefits in kind, providing access to services and targeted incentives to enter the labor market. Thus, minimum income schemes are not a passive tool, but act as a factor in improving the prospects for inclusion and employment. Well-designed minimum income schemes strike a balance between reducing poverty, promoting employment and maintaining sustainable budget spending.
Minimum income and social safety nets should contain sufficient incentives and support for people who can work to reintegrate into the labor market. Furthermore, they should be designed to help realize the full potential of the environmental and digital transition by supporting labor market transformations and the active participation of disadvantaged people.
The social and economic benefits of adequate and targeted social safety nets have become even more important during the containment measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Adequate minimum income is also particularly important in the current context of rising energy prices and inflation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as income measures can be targeted specifically at vulnerable populations.
The proposal will contribute to the EU's 2030 social goals of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty or exclusion by at least 15 million, as outlined in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. It will also help Member States to achieve the target of at least 78% of the population aged between 20 and 64 having a job.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the Commission on Economic Affairs in the People's Interest, said: Social protection systems help to reduce social inequalities and disparities. They provide a decent living for those who cannot work and encourage those who can to return to work. At a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet, it will be important for Member States this autumn to modernize their social safety nets with an active inclusion approach to help those most in need. This way we will be able to fight poverty and social exclusion and help more people get into work during this difficult period.
Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicola Schmidt added: One in five in the EU today is at risk of poverty and social exclusion. All Member States have minimum income schemes, but the analysis shows that they are not always adequate and do not reach all those in need or motivate people to return to the labor market. In a context of rising living costs and increasing uncertainty, we need to ensure that our social safety nets are up to the task. We need to pay special attention to getting young people back into work, including through income support, so they don't fall into the vicious cycle of exclusion.
Member States are recommended to:
To improve the adequacy of income support:
to determine the level of income support through a transparent and reliable methodology.
while maintaining work incentives, ensure that income support gradually reflects a range of adequacy criteria. Member States should achieve an adequate level of income support by the end of 2030 at the latest, while maintaining the sustainability of public finances.
To review annually and, if necessary, adapt the level of income support.
To improve the coverage and use of the minimum income:
the criteria for benefiting from assistance should be transparent and non-discriminatory. For example, to promote gender equality and economic independence, especially for women and young people, Member States should make it easier to receive income support per person instead of per household, without necessarily increasing the overall level of benefits per household. In addition, further measures are needed to ensure that minimum income schemes are used by single-parent households, which in most cases are women.
Application procedures should be accessible, simplified and accompanied by user-friendly information.
The decision in relation to an application for minimum income should be issued within 30 days from the submission of the application, with the possibility of revising this decision.
Minimum income schemes should be adapted to situations of socio-economic crisis, for example by introducing additional flexibility regarding eligibility criteria.
To improve access to inclusive labor markets:
Measures to increase labor market activity should provide sufficient incentives for (re)entering the labor market, paying special attention to supporting young people.
Minimum income schemes should help people find and keep jobs, for example through inclusive education and training and support during and after employment and for mentoring.
It should be possible to combine income support with work benefits for a shorter period, for example during a probationary period or a traineeship.
To improve access to support and essential services:
Minimum income recipients should have effective access to quality support services in the areas of health care, training and education. Social inclusion services such as counseling and mentoring should also be offered to those in need.
In addition, minimum income recipients should have constant efficient access to basic services such as energy.
To promote the provision of personalized support:
Member States should carry out an individual multi-faceted needs assessment to identify the barriers beneficiaries face to social inclusion and/or employment and the support they need to overcome them.
Based on the assessment, no later than three months after receiving access to a minimum income, the recipients should be given an inclusion plan containing joint goals, a timetable and a special package of measures to support their achievement.
Make the management of social safety nets more effective both at EU level and at national, regional and local level, and introduce monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
The EU provides funding to help member states improve their minimum income schemes and social infrastructure through reforms and investment.
Next steps
The Commission's proposal for a Council Recommendation on an adequate minimum income guaranteeing active inclusion will be discussed by Member States with a view to its adoption by the Council. After its adoption, Member States should report to the Commission every three years on their implementation progress. Furthermore, the Commission will closely monitor the implementation of the Recommendation in the context of the European Semester. The proposed instrument, a Council Recommendation, gives Member States sufficient latitude to assess how best to achieve the objectives of this initiative, taking into account their specific circumstances.
Context
One in five — or a total of 94.5 million people — were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU in 2021. Social safety nets play a key role in supporting these people and facilitating their (re)entry into the labor market if they can. However, more effective social protection systems are needed as around 20% of the unemployed at risk of poverty do not qualify for income support and between 30 and 50% of the eligible population do not receive assistance for a minimum income.
29.09.2022
EMPLOYMENT IN BULGARIA AT A 14-YEAR MAXIMUM
The employment rate among able-bodied citizens of the European Union (between 20 and 64 years of age) amounted to 74.8 percent in the second quarter of the year. This is the eighth consecutive quarter in which the indicator has increased, and compared to the previous quarter (January - March 2022) it increased by 0.3 percentage points. This is indicated by the latest data of the European statistical agency Eurostat, published today on its website.
In Bulgaria, the employment rate in the second quarter reached 75 percent of the working-age population from 20 to 64 years of age. This is the highest level of employment in our country for at least 14 years, according to available data, and in the second quarter of 2009 it was 68.6 percent.
Stagnation in the labor market
Labor market slack, which includes people with unmet employment needs, which is also one of the main components of unemployment, accounted for 11.5 percent of the extended labor force (aged 20-64) in the EU in the second quarter in 2022. This is down from 11.9 percent registered in the first quarter.
Bulgarians experiencing an unsatisfied need for employment in the second quarter of the year were 7.7 percent of the expanded labor force, which is a minimal decrease (-0.1 percent) compared to the previous quarter. This is still the eighth consecutive quarter of a decline in the indicator, after in the second quarter of 2020 it added 2.2 p.p. compared to a quarter earlier, reaching 10.6 percent.
Comparison by EU Member States
Changes in the level of employment between the first and second quarters of the year vary in the different member states of the Union. The largest increase was registered in Lithuania (+1.6 p.p.), Latvia (+0.9 p.p.), as well as Ireland and Slovakia (+0.8 p.p. each).
Although employment rose in 20 EU countries, it maintained its level in Hungary and Slovenia, and fell in Croatia and Belgium (-0.5 p.p. each) as well as in Luxembourg (-0.2 p.p.) and Cyprus and Portugal (-0.1 p.p. for each).
29.09.2022
WHAT IS A PERMANENT ADDRESS?
According to the Civil Registration Act, a person's address is the unique description of where they live or where they receive their correspondence. The address in Bulgaria necessarily consists of the name of the district, the municipality and the settlement. An address is something very important because it is related to many things in a person's life - receiving subpoenas, tax notices, obtaining identification documents, voting in elections, health status and medical care, employment and many others.
Every person is obliged to declare in writing his permanent and current address. The two addresses may match. They are important for the so-called address registration, which is reflected in the population registers and in the National Database "Population". It is carried out by municipalities and town halls.
And here we come to the specifics related to a person's permanent address. It is in the locality that everyone chooses to be registered with. It is always on the territory of Bulgaria, unlike the current one, which can also be abroad under certain rules. The permanent address is primary and each person can only have one. It fits into the identity card. However, in the application for issuing an identity card or international passport, as well as when submitting a tax return, both addresses are indicated - permanent and current.
The permanent address is declared by submitting an application by the relevant person to the Municipal Administration or to the offices of the Ministry of the Interior under the Law on Bulgarian Identity Documents. The application is made in person, and exceptionally - by an authorized person after presenting a notarized express power of attorney. For minors and persons placed under interdiction, the application is made by their legal representatives.
If someone wants or needs to change their permanent address, they must submit a special application to the municipality or town hall where the person chooses to be entered in the population registers. That is, if he moves from Varna to Sofia, he must go to the relevant district in the capital, where he will live, and submit an application.
For the change, he must carry an identity document, a copy of a document proving the ownership or use of the property - a title document. In the case of registration on the basis of a rental agreement, evidence of the use of the property for residential purposes should be provided, e.g. a certificate of declared data from a local tax and fee office. There must also be a declaration of written consent of the owner - when the applicant is not the owner. It is signed personally by the owner in front of the official or submitted with a notarized signature.
When the permanent address changes, the change is reported through the National Database "Population" to the municipality of the previous permanent address of the municipality in which the current address is located, and to the Ministry of the Interior through ESGRAON. This is done ex officio.
After changing the permanent address in the municipality or the town hall, the relevant citizen must change his identity card by applying to the passport services of the Ministry of the Interior. The identity card is changed within one month from the submission of the application for change of permanent address.
