03.06.2022
ABOUT 11,000 UNEMPLOYED AND WORKING PEOPLE WILL IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS WITH FUNDS FROM THE STATE BUDGET
Nearly 11,000 unemployed and working people can acquire a new profession or new key competencies by joining free trainings. They are organized by the Employment Agency and are financed from the state budget within the National Action Plan for Employment for 2022. Trainings for acquiring professional qualifications and key competencies of the unemployed will be held throughout the country - in over 110 settlements places.
Over 450 unemployed people from unequal groups on the labor market will be able to undergo training for a new professional qualification in the 4 branches of the State Enterprise "Bulgarian-German Center for Vocational Training" (SE BGCPO) in Pleven, Pazardzhik, Smolyan and Stara Zagora of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. Courses will also be held at the Center for Human Resources Development and Regional Initiatives.
In the summer, the branch of BGCPO in Pazardzhik will host courses for acquiring the professional qualification of cashier, office manager, organizer of Internet applications, computer schedule, office secretary, programmer, electrician, assistant educator.
The company's office in Stara Zagora offers summer courses for assistant educator, cook, installer of plumbing networks, computer schedule, transport technician, organizer of Internet applications, computer operator, welder, tax and customs broker, welder.
In the period June-August in Smolyan will be held trainings for manicurist-pedicurist, welder, construction technician, baker-confectioner, tax and customs intermediary, programmer, operational accountant, graphic designer, translator from and into Bulgarian sign language, beautician, internet organizer applications.
The summer trainings of the branch of BGCPO in Pleven will be in the professions of computer operator, welder, plumber, builder, graphic designer, hairdresser, cook, electrician.
The state-owned enterprise "Bulgarian-German Center for Vocational Training" provides accommodation for each student in a dormitory. The unemployed receive BGN 10 per day for each day of training, as well as funds for travel expenses.
All schedules for the trainings can be seen here: https://www.az.government.bg/pages/grafici-za-obuchenia/.
Additional information and consultation can be obtained on the spot - in any directorate "Labor Office" in the country.
03.06.2022
THE AGENCY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FINANCES UP TO BGN 80,000 PROJECTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Agency for People with Disabilities announces a new competition for funding projects to stimulate the employment of people with permanent disabilities in a specialized work environment. The maximum subsidy for each approved proposal is BGN 80,000. Specialized enterprises and cooperatives of people with disabilities can participate in the competition.
The subsidy is granted for the creation and equipment of new jobs, as well as for financing activities to increase the competitiveness of employers by building new production lines.
The deadline for submitting project proposals is July 4. The documents can be sent electronically to ahu_stn@mlsp.government.bg, in the office of the Agency for People with Disabilities or through a postal operator. The tender documentation can be found at https://ahu.mlsp.government.bg/portal/page/84/.
In 2021, the program held two competitions for financing business-oriented projects, in which 33 specialized enterprises and cooperatives of people with disabilities participated. A total of 18 projects with a total value of over BGN 1 million were approved for funding, which created 35 new jobs for people with permanent disabilities.
03.06.2022
THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET MORE AMBITIOUS TARGETS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION BY 2030
The Government adopted amendments to the Employment Strategy of the Republic of Bulgaria 2021-2030 and the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Promotion of Social Inclusion 2030. The update of both strategies is in line with the adopted more ambitious national goals in the field of employment and reduction of poverty and social exclusion.
The new goal in the Employment Strategy envisages an increase in the employment rate for the population aged 20-64 to 79% by 2030. Amendments to the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Promotion of Social Inclusion envisage the number of people by 2030 at risk of poverty or social exclusion to decrease by 787,000 people.
The updating of the national targets in both strategies is in line with the European Union's priorities in the field of employment and social inclusion. The national goals are related to increasing employment, reducing poverty and inequality, as well as improving the quality of life of people from vulnerable groups.
03.06.2022
THE NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN THE FIELD OF CULTURE HAS BEEN APPROVED
About 200 unemployed young people under the age of 29 with secondary and higher education in the field of art will be able to start working in cultural institutes. This is provided by the National Program for Ensuring Youth Employment in the Field of Culture, which was approved by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Georgi Gyokov after its coordination in the National Council for Employment Promotion.
The program is part of the National Action Plan for Employment in 2022. Its budget is BGN 1.2 million. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy will subsidize the employment of young people for a period of 6 months full-time, providing employers funds to pay their wages and social security contributions.
The main goal of the program is to provide opportunities for work experience in the specialty of young people who have completed secondary education with a professional qualification in the professional fields of "Fine Arts", "Music and Performing Arts", "Design" and "Applied Arts and Crafts". Through it, young people with a specialty in higher education "Arts" or professional field "Theory of Arts", "Fine Arts", "Music and Dance" or "Theater and Film Arts" will be able to start working.
The implementation of the program will ensure the transition from unemployment to employment for young people who have graduated in art. At the same time, the process of preservation and development of cultural values will be supported and the opportunity will be provided for unemployed young people to gain professional experience.
The text of the program is published at the following link: https://mlsp.government.bg/programi-i-proekti-za-zaetost.
03.06.2022
REMOTE AND HYBRID JOBS ATTRACT 7 TIMES MORE CANDIDATES
Even now, as pandemic restrictions ease and more people return to the office, flexible and remote jobs are becoming more popular than ever, CNBC Make It reports.
A new study by CareerBuilder found that jobs that allow employees to work from home full-time or part-time received seven times more applications last month than attendance positions. The jobs cover industries and levels of experience: the tax manager, the Spanish teacher and the therapist were among the most popular positions, informs infostock.bg.
"People are not going back to work the way they were in the past," said Christine Kelly, chief marketing officer of CareerBuilder. "Flexibility is the new norm and the expectations of employees - we will see this trend continue in the coming months."
What are the factors that determine this jump in the number of flexible job applications and how companies should react?
People do not want to return to the office full time
As coronavirus cases continue to decline dramatically in the United States, several companies, including the TIAA, American Express and Twitter, announced changed dates for returning to the office in March.
However, most Americans working from home would continue to do so if given the opportunity. According to a Pew Research survey of 5,889 workers in January, 61% of people who work remotely say they don't go to the office because they don't want to, citing a better work-life balance and productivity.
Some people would rather leave than travel to work again: a recent Morning Consult survey of 400 workers found that nearly 50% of people would consider leaving work if their employer asked them to come to the office before feel safe.
So it is no coincidence that we are seeing a jump in the number of applications for remote and flexible work at the same time as more companies are returning to the office.
"After two years of working from home, employers want to leave Covid-19 behind," says Kelly. "But that doesn't mean employees want to go back to work full-time."
Flexible work can lead to better career opportunities
The continuing search for remote and hybrid jobs also comes from workers in the service sector, who are refusing to look for higher wages and flexible schedules.
In January, the services sector lost the most jobs (274,000), led by the leisure and hotel business, which cut 154,000 jobs, according to the ADP National Employment Report. Although employment increased slightly last month (179,000 new jobs have emerged in the leisure and hotel business), employment in the sector is still well below pre-pandemic levels.
"People working in retail, hotels or restaurants are realizing that their skills - customer service, communication, time management - are shifting to different industries and are more in demand than ever in this narrow labor market," said Kelly.
A customer service representative, administrative assistant and sales representative are among the most sought after flexible jobs among applicants, according to CareerBuilder. "Job seekers feel better able to look for opportunities outside the industry in which they have worked for years," Kelly added.
What can companies do?
Kelly says that in order to better attract and retain talent, companies need to pay more attention to employee engagement and less attention to job offers.
"The contract signing bonus or extra time off can attract people to work, but how do you communicate with employees and meet their needs once they are hired?" she explains.
Employee engagement can include mentoring programs, virtual team lunches, or "mid-term interviews" (a tool organizations use to assess why their (high-performing) employees stay with them), among other initiatives. "Now is the time for companies to be much more practical, communicative and creative in communicating with their employees," says the specialist.
03.06.2022
FROM JULY 1, SICK LEAVE FOR PARENTS DUE TO QUARANTINE OF STUDENTS
Parents of students under the age of 12 should be entitled to leave when their child, his class or the school is quarantined. This is proposed to be regulated by amendments to the Health Act, the Social Security Code and the Labor Code by deputies from the four parties in the ruling coalition.
Currently, leave due to temporary incapacity for work can be used only by parents whose child has been" returned from a childcare facility due to quarantine in the facility or to the child". However, schools are not children's institutions and so mothers and fathers of students do not have this right.
"Therefore, in quarantine at school or in the relevant class, a healthy child returns home from school, but parents of children under 12 in these cases are not entitled to leave due to temporary incapacity for work due to a legislative gap in the Health Act, which is respectively transferred to the Labor Code and the Social Security Code", write the initiators of the bill.
However, this means that a child under the age of 12 is left without supervision and care, and this is a violation of the Child Protection Act, which is punishable by a fine of BGN 1,000 to BGN 5,000.
Therefore, the deputies now propose in the HA and SSC to provide that temporary incapacity is "care for a healthy child under 12 years of age, returned from a kindergarten or school, due to quarantine of the institution or school, or a separate group or class in him or due to the quarantine of the child." And in order to regulate the right to leave, the relevant changes are made in the Labor Code and the Social Security Code.
The changes are expected to take effect on July 1, 2022, so that funds can be provided for the upcoming budget update.
03.06.2022
THE TRAININGS UNDER THE CITUB PROJECT "WITH NEW GREEN AND ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR NEW EMPLOYMENT" START
The trainings under the project "With new green and ecological knowledge and skills for new employment" will start on June 6. It is implemented by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria and is part of the National Action Plan for Employment in 2022.
The main goal of the project is to develop human capital according to the needs of the economy and quickly adapt to changes in labor demand in line with new technologies and ensure sustainable employment. Special emphasis is placed on green and digital transformations. Beneficiaries will be focused on environmental thinking, the formation of environmental attitudes in life and work. This will ensure rapid and successful adaptation to transforming jobs, which will lead to the prevention of the long-term unemployed, their social exclusion, investing in people and their education.
The project "With new green and environmental knowledge and skills for new employment" for 2022 provides training for 999 adults from risk groups in the labor market, which will be held in 42 municipalities in the country. They will be 100% included in trainings on professions and specialties in demand on the labor market according to the short-term, medium-term and long-term forecasts of the labor market in the field of public and public services.
The main target groups are unemployed young people who are neither studying nor working (NEET`s); unemployed persons without qualification with an unemployment rate above the national average; unemployed persons with low general education and no qualification; unemployed persons with registration for more than 6 months in the Labor Office; unemployed without education and qualifications.
Trainings in 7 professions will be held:
02.06.2022
WHY IS PERSONAL BUDGET SO IMPORTANT?
Keeping a personal budget allows you to create a spending plan for your money. Budgeting ensures that you always have enough money for the things you need and that are important to you. Following a budget or spending plan will also protect you from debt, and if you are already in debt, it will help you deal with it.
The purpose of the budget is to help create financial stability. By tracking costs and following a planned plan, the budget makes it easier to pay bills on time, build an emergency fund and save on large expenses such as a car or a home. In general, the budget gives a person a stronger financial basis both in everyday life and in the long run.
7 reasons to start budgeting now
Budgeting helps you set long-term goals and work towards them. If you just wander aimlessly through life, throwing away your money for anything that catches your eye, how will you ever save enough money to buy a car or make a down payment for a new home?
Your budget motivates you to set goals, save money, track your progress, and make your dreams come true. Yes, it is sometimes depressing to realize that something you want, an expensive item, does not fit into your budget. But when you remind yourself that you are saving for your own home, it will be much easier to turn around and leave the store empty-handed.
Life is full of unexpected surprises, both good and bad. When you are laid off, damaged, ill or injured, divorced or faced with death in the family, this can lead to serious financial turmoil. Of course, it seems that these contingencies always occur at the worst possible moment - when you do not have enough money. That is why everyone needs an emergency fund.
Your budget should include an emergency fund, which consists of at least three to six months of living expenses. This extra money will guarantee that you will not sink into the depths of debt after a life crisis. Of course, it will take time to save money for a few monthly expenses. You do not need to immediately transfer most of your salary to the emergency fund. Just build it into your budget, set realistic goals and start small.
Building a budget "forces" you to rethink your spending habits and restructure your financial goals. You will probably notice that you spend money on things you don't need, such as various subscriptions. Indiscriminate spending will inevitably lead to overspending on a monthly basis. And overspending limits your purchasing power in the future and guarantees you a lot of stress from looking for a way to cover all your needs and debts.
Budgeting keeps you organized. You'll be surprised to find that it's easier to live on a budget and keep your finances organized than it is to try to get your finances in order once you've missed them. Disorganization in personal finances can be catastrophic. And the longer you live without a budget, the easier it is for your financial life to go wrong and things to get out of hand.
Creating a family budget teaches the couple to talk about money. If you are married, your budget (separate and shared) plays an extremely important role in meeting the needs of the household and family. It helps you plan your financial future together, rely on each other, work in a team for the common good and make sure you look in the same direction.
Unfortunately, many family problems and reasons for divorce are related to money or rather - to their lack. So, if you want to end the financial battles with your partner and finally reach a single financial position, budgeting is an extremely important first step in the right direction. This will take your relationship to the next level, making you wiser and more aware.
Let's say you spend your money responsibly, follow your budget, and never accumulate credit card debt. That's fine, but don't you forget something? As important as it is to spend your money wisely today, saving is also crucial to your future. A well-planned budget can help you do just that.
It is important to anticipate investment contributions in your budget. By directing part of your monthly income to a pension savings account or other pension funds, you will be able to buy security for the future. Even if you have to sacrifice a little now that you are retiring, you will find that it was worth it. Better a poor horse than no horse at all.
Budgeting can help you avoid debt or get out of debt. The rule is simple: if you want to have money (ie to build wealth), then you must stop spending on things you can not afford. In order to save part of your monthly income, you should not use it to repay a loan to someone (with or without interest) for things you could not afford in the past.
Budgeting plays a crucial role in overcoming and avoiding financial difficulties. Understanding and adhering to the financial limits you can afford to reach helps you avoid overspending on things you don't need, so you can save more and have the funds to cover unexpected expenses without taking out a loan. If you stick to the right plan, budgeting can get you out of bad debt.
When planning a budget, you need to decide how reasonable it is to spend in each of the defined categories. So, if you want to invest a significant part of your money in leisure activities, you should not feel bad about your choice, as long as you still manage to save and satisfy your other needs.
One month you can increase the cost of entertainment, and the next - to reduce them. Budgeting is not about limiting the fun in your life. If you have enough money left, it can even open up more opportunities for your favorite activities. And the best part is that it helps you not worry about the financial security of your future.
02.06.2022
FOR THE LAST TIME, EMPLOYERS SUBMIT APPLICATIONS UNDER MEASURE 60/40
The deadline for employers to apply for funds under measure 60/40 is June 10, the Employment Agency announced.
During this period, documents will be adopted simultaneously for the months of May and June 2022. Employers wishing to receive financial support for maintaining the employment of employees for these two months must meet the conditions of a decree of the Council of Ministers № 151/03.07.2020 (amended and supplemented by CMD № 40 of 31.03.2022), including for the reported decline in sales revenues in May - not less than 30% compared to the average monthly revenues for 2019 or 2020 depending on the date of incorporation.
Employers must meet the set deadline for application, as the submitted documents will not be subject to verification and evaluation by the commissions in the labor offices.
Decree of the Council of Ministers № 40/2022 regulates the application of measure 60/40 until June 2022 inclusive, as the deadline for application is June 10, 2022 is defined in §4 of the Transitional and Final Provisions to the Decree, and in § 5 regulates the possibility to submit documents for the same cited term for the month of June 2022.
The deadlines for applying for and using support under measure 60/40 are in accordance with the Temporary Framework of the European Commission for State Aid Measures to Support the Economy in the Conditions of the COVID-19 Epidemic Outbreak, which expires on 30 June 2022.
Up-to-date information on the application of employers to receive funds for May and June is published on the official website of the Employment Agency, in the section "Financial incentives to maintain employment" at: https://www.az.government.bg/pages/pms-151-2020-izm-s-pms-40-2022/.
30.05.2022
ACCEPTANCE OF PROJECTS FOR INVESTMENTS IN PROCESSING AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS HAS STARTED
Acceptance of project proposals under sub-measure 4.2 "Investments in processing/marketing of agricultural products" began on May 17, 2022. The procedure provides for the acceptance of projects with an investment value of up to 300,000 euros under the sub-measure, which is part of measure 4 "Investments in tangible assets" The Rural Development Program 2014-2020
Measure 4.2 fulfills the commitment made in the coalition agreement to support small and medium-sized producers, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
The envisaged financial resource for providing grants to the eligible candidates under the procedure amounts to BGN 39,116,000.
The maximum amount of eligible costs for one project is BGN 586,740, and the financial assistance for the approved project proposals is up to 50 percent of the total amount of eligible costs for financial support. For applicants-large enterprises in the sense of the Law on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, the amount of the financial aid is up to 40 per cent of the total amount of the eligible costs for financial support.
Eligible applicants for the procedure are:
The production investments applied for must be carried out in the following selected production sectors related to the processing/marketing of agricultural products:
Project proposals under the procedure can be submitted by applicants by filling in a web-based application form and submitting the form and supporting documents through the Information System for Management and Monitoring of European Structural and Investment Funds for the period 2014 - 2020 (UMIS2020) using the Qualified Electronic Signature (QES), at the following Internet address: http://eumis2020.government.bg/.
The deadline for submitting project proposals is 5:30 pm on August 17, 2022.
