11.05.2022
HOW CAN WE MAKE ADDITIONAL INCOME?
"It turns out that less than 1% of people officially have a second job in Bulgaria, according to NSI statistics. Nearly 90% of Bulgarians' incomes come from salaries, pensions and social benefits. Investments are also below 1% and other sources are around 4%. At the same time, many studies are being done, which show that about 30% is the share of the gray economy in Bulgaria." This was stated by financial expert Stoyne Vasilev.
"What I recommend is, where we work, to take advantage of options for additional projects, which is the easiest and closest to us. If this is not possible, we can look for additional work. Freelance platforms, for example, are a good option for finding additional income," Vasilev said.
According to him, the other thing we can do is to organize a small business - it is very easy to make an online store or even use advertising sites and buy and sell there.
Another very popular activity in our country is the so-called Drop shipping - to sell without having any stock, as the goods are actually sent from another store.
However, we have to evaluate the sites very carefully, because in addition to the opportunities, there are many companies that are trying to make some fraudulent schemes or are not correct with the payments. We need to check whether the company is legitimate and whether the site has other people who earn extra income from it, says the expert.
"I would start with the homes we do not currently use in some cities. Let's take advantage of what we already have, because it is not so difficult to rent them out. There are companies that are fully involved in this process.
Before we think about buying an investment property to rent, we can think about those that we already own and are empty. Statistics show that even in Sofia close to имо of the properties are empty.
Secondly, when we decide to become rentiers, we have to do our homework again and look for specialists in this field. Although it seems easy for many people to buy a property and rent it out, this is not the case. Prices are currently rising and rents have remained at lower levels, which reduces profitability," explains Vasilev.
11.05.2022
DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH IN JOB POSTINGS IN HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS
The number of job advertisements in April reached just over 52,500, an increase of 21% compared to April 2021, according to the monthly analysis of the HR company and career site JobTiger.
Compared to March this year, there is also, albeit a slight increase of about 1% despite the Easter holidays and weekends in April.
Solid double-digit growth of 14% was marked by job advertisements in the hotel and restaurant sector, reaching over 11,000 positions, while the number of job advertisements increased by 7% in the retail sector and in the logistics and transport sector by 4% and in "Health and Pharmacy" - by 1%.
The hotel and restaurant sector is on the way to take the first place as a share of the total number of ads and to overtake the traditional leader - the "Trade and Sales" sector.
At the same time, job advertisements in the Manufacturing sector decreased by 2% in April, in Construction by 3%, in Marketing and Advertising by 7%, in Accounting, Auditing and Finance by 9.3%, "IT" sector - by 9.4% and "Administrative and service activities" - also decreased by 9.4%.
Despite the decline in job advertisements in the IT sector, it retains third position as a share of the total number of advertisements, followed by "Manufacturing" (with a share of 11%), "Administrative and service activities" (9%) and "Logistics and transport "(8%).
According to the analysis of the data, the offers for work from home and/or remote work at the end of April reached almost 6000 or 11.6% of the total number of ads. Compared to the previous month of March, the number of these types of proposals increased by 8%, and their ratio by sectors is as follows: "IT" (55%), followed by "Administrative and service activities" (15%), outsourcing sectors (15%) and "Trade and Sales" (5%).
In April 2022, the total number of ads in the leading regional cities decreased by 3%. The change by cities is as follows: Sofia (-6%), Plovdiv (-2%), Varna (6%), Burgas (5%), Ruse (-12%) and Stara Zagora (5%).
As a share distribution, the proposals in the leading regional cities occupy 72% of all announcements. The distribution in each of these cities is as follows: Sofia (43%), Plovdiv (9%), Varna (10%), Burgas (4%), Ruse (3%) and Stara Zagora (2%).
The number of job vacancies for refugees in April was over 2,600 - an increase of 16% compared to March. As a share, this type of proposals is about 5% of the total number of ads in the country.
10.05.2022
HOW TO COLLECT COUNTER-CLAIMS?
What obligations can be offset? What is the procedure for doing this? Is it possible to intercept everything?
Bulgarian law allows the set-off of counterclaims, but at the same time sets several conditions for this to happen, describes some exceptions, and finally explicitly defines the procedure.
According to Art. 103 of the Law on Obligations and Contracts (LOAC), when two persons owe each other money or homogeneous and substitutable items, each of them, if his claim is due and liquid, may set it off against his obligation. There are several requirements here, without which there can be no set-off at all.
The first is that the two sides must owe each other. Here the law does not distinguish between the grounds on which the obligation arose and its nature. Next, the receivable must be due and liquid. This means that the claim of at least the one who is going to do the set-off must be indisputable. On the other hand, it is liquid in this case that it is feasible, ie what is intercepted is available and can be taken. It should be noted here that sometimes the set-off is used in the sense of compensation, of a kind of enforcement, when a party refuses to fulfill an obligation, and it itself has a claim against the creditor.
There can be an offset only if money or homogeneous and substitutable items are due to each other. It's clear about the money. The interception method is mainly used by them. Homogeneous and substitutable items means that, for example, the same goods are due - wheat, steel, eggs or the like. In any case, however, the set-off under the LOAC is not possible if the due is not substitutable, homogeneous items or money.
The law also stipulates that set-off is allowed even after the receivable has been repaid by prescription, if it could have been made before the expiration of the prescription. That is, all the conditions listed so far at the time of the expiration of the statute of limitations must have been present - to be available, to be indisputable, to be due, to be liquid.
It is important to note that if the debtor has agreed to the transfer of the claim, he cannot set off his debt against his claim against the previous creditor.
Next, the LOAC stipulates that the set-off is made through a statement of one party addressed to the other. This means that the offset, the compensation is not done automatically. It must be requested by at least one of the parties.
The set-off cannot be made on time or on condition. The only exception is if the condition is that the claim brought in court will be respected.
Otherwise, the two counterclaims shall be deemed repaid to the extent of the lesser of them from the day on which the set-off could have taken place.
Another thing to note is that non-enforceable claims, receivables caused by willful misconduct and tax claims cannot be set off without the creditor's consent.
The receivables related to the enforcement are those so-called non-sequesterable things, against which it cannot be enforced by law. They are defined in the Code of Civil Procedure and in an act of the Council of Ministers. There can be no interception here.
There can be no set-off for receivables when they are related to receivables from torts. For example, if there is a recognized disability benefit.
There can be no set-off under the LOAC and in the case of taxes. It should be noted here that set-off is also allowed with them, but this is done by virtue of the legislation related to the collection of state receivables, including the Tax and Social Security Procedure Code.
10.05.2022
EASY LOANS ARE GRANTED TO SMALL COMPANIES
The Ministry of Innovation and Growth has announced a new BGN 96 million loan program to guarantee loans to small and medium-sized enterprises. Seven commercial banks will provide loans without collateral.
The money aims to provide liquidity, opportunities for new investment and growth for small and medium-sized companies.
The loans will be provided by the partner banks through the Fund of Funds in the amount of up to BGN 3 million.
Bulgarian SMEs will have significantly facilitated access to business loans, the opportunity for a 12-month grace period on the principal and financing without collateral requirements, as well as approval in a shorter time.
The Recovery Program was developed and launched last summer. So far, with BGN 131.7 million under the guarantee instruments of the Fund, loans in the amount of nearly BGN 400 million have been agreed, and nearly 900 small and medium-sized companies have been supported, explained the Minister of Innovation and Growth Daniel Lorer.
According to him, the total amount of loans under the entire "Recovery Program" since its launch, including the new resource, is expected to reach over BGN 700 million in support of Bulgarian small and medium-sized companies.
This guarantee will provide a comprehensive loan portfolio of BGN 240 million, said Minister Daniel Lorer.
The money will be disbursed under a shortened administrative procedure within five working days.
"The most valuable and important thing in this program is its availability, the opportunity for Bulgarian companies to receive loans without collateral now, when many of them might find it difficult to have relations with their bank at all," he added.
09.05.2022
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYERS AND THE UNEMPLOYED HAS STARTED
The Employment Agency has started accepting applications from employers who want to receive financial support in hiring unemployed people from certain vulnerable groups in the labor market, the agency said.
Employers can submit documents to the labor offices in the country for the use of preferences for employment and training of the unemployed, which can be: young people up to 29 years of age with permanent disabilities or using social or integrated health and social services for residential care, graduates your education; unemployed persons who have served a sentence of "imprisonment".
There are also opportunities for applications from employers who open jobs for on-the-job training (dual training system) for the unemployed or so-called green jobs, as well as for hiring unemployed people over 58 under the national program "Assistance" for retirement ".
According to the National Action Plan for Employment in 2022, financial support can also be given to employers who organize training of unemployed people to acquire a profession in order to hire them.
Funds from the state budget also support the implementation of trainings on key competencies of employees in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises at the initiative of the employer.
The parameters of financing are defined in the National Action Plan for Employment for 2022 and provide for the provision of funds for remuneration for a certain period, as well as the relevant social security contributions for the unemployed. For the unemployed involved in training for acquiring a profession, the costs of training are covered, and the students themselves are paid daily scholarships and funds for intercity transport. For the training of employees, the state bears 50% of the costs of organized training in key competencies.
At the same time, financial support for the unemployed continues, which aims to support their mobility or entrepreneurship. Unemployed people with an attitude to start their own business can receive the unemployment benefits they are entitled to at once or be reimbursed up to BGN 4,000 for expenses incurred in connection with starting a business. New start-ups can also receive funds for other additional services such as counseling, training, hiring another unemployed person, etc.
Unemployed people can also receive financial support for daily expenses for intercity transport to and from work, as well as funds to cover accommodation and other expenses when starting work in a settlement more than 50 km away from their place of residence.
Each Labor Office Directorate has funds under some of the various employment promotion programs and measures that provide preferences to employers or the unemployed. The current opportunities to apply for them until the planned financial resources are exhausted are announced on the website of the Employment Agency, in the section "Announcements for financing by regions" in subsections for each region "Incentive measures for the unemployed" and "Incentive programs and measures for employers".
The free funds are also announced on the information board in each Labor Office Directorate in the country, where complete information on the possibilities, the order and the conditions for granting preferences for the unemployed or employers can be obtained.
As of May 2022, the Labor Office Directorate - Berkovitsa has the following financial resources:
For the unemployed
Providing funds to unemployed persons with an approved business project who have not exercised rights under Art. 47, para. 1 and Art. 49, para. 1 of the Employment Promotion Act (EPA) during the previous 3 years for starting a business as a micro-enterprise - the amount of the funds is BGN 4,000.
For employers
Measures under the EPA, which are implemented under Art. 50, para. 4 of the EPA, for employers who provide on-the-job training (dual system of training) of unemployed persons - BGN 4,152
National Program "Retirement Aid" - BGN 6,446.
National Program for Employment and Training of People with Permanent Disabilities - BGN 5,590.
Training of persons under Art. 63, para. 1, item 1 of the EPA, by the order of art. 63 of the Regulations for the implementation of the EPA. (for acquiring professional qualification by unemployed persons) - BGN 1278
Training of persons under Art. 63, para. 1, item 3 of the EPA, by the order of art. 63 of the Regulations for the implementation of the EPA. (for the acquisition of key competencies of employees at employers - "micro" and "small" enterprises) - BGN 423.
Training of persons under Art. 63, para. 1, item 3 of the EPA, by the order of art. 63 of the Regulations for the implementation of the EPA. (for acquisition of key competencies of employees at employers - "medium" enterprises) - BGN 89.
For the use of the above preferences, employers can submit to the Directorate "Labor Office" - Berkovitsa applications for vacancies and the necessary documents, from 09.05.2022 until the exhaustion of financial resources.
05.05.2022
NEW RULES FOR THE PAYMENT OF AIDS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
New rules, according to which the NHIF will pay for aids, devices, equipment and medical devices for people with disabilities, provide for changes in Ordinance № 10, proposed for public discussion by the Ministry of Health.
Currently, people with disabilities with an identified need for aids receive targeted assistance for the manufacture, purchase and/or repair, with the exception of medical devices, which are paid in full or in part by the NHIF.
The new order in which devices and medical devices will be provided is maximally optimized and accessible for them, including the submission of an application for receipt of the respective device and its approval will be carried out electronically, the ministry said.
The financing and provision of the aids under the new order is carried out by the National Health Insurance Fund, and the funds for this are provided from the state budget by transfer through the budget of the Ministry of Health.
The National Health Insurance Fund will now pay for aids, devices, equipment and medical devices under the following conditions:
Other changes in the ordinance envisage to specify the procedure for payment by the NHIF of medicinal products for home treatment on the territory of the country, as well as of medicinal products used in hospital medical care and paid by the NHIF outside the value of medical services (these are medicinal products intended for the treatment of oncological diseases and medicinal products used in life-threatening bleeding and emergency surgical and invasive interventions in patients with congenital coagulopathies).
05.05.2022
AID UNDER THE REGIONAL PROGRAMS FOR HIRING THE UNEMPLOYED FROM 3 TO 6 MONTHS
The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy has started the procedure for preparation of regional employment programs for 2022, by inviting the Employment Commissions to the regional development councils for their development.
This year, they are expected to create 9,150 jobs for unemployed youth, people over the age of 50, people with disabilities, the long-term unemployed and the low-skilled.
Employers from not only the public but also the private sector will be able to participate in the programs. They will also be able to provide employment for people enjoying temporary protection. The employment of the unemployed on a full or part-time basis for a period of 3 to 6 months will be subsidized.
The number of people who will start working on regional programs is more than 3 times higher than last year. Their employment will be financed under the National Action Plan for Employment, which provides for BGN 48 million to provide jobs for the unemployed from disadvantaged groups in the labor market.
In this way, the state will support both vulnerable people and businesses and administrations in regions experiencing difficulties due to the protracted Kovid crisis. The increased financial resources will make it possible through the programs to create jobs in a larger number of settlements.
The aim of the regional employment programs is to reduce local unemployment and regional disparities in labor supply and demand.
Each regional administration can submit to the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy for approval only one regional employment program. The deadline for applications is May 20. The specific requirements and parameters that need to be met by the district administrations are sent to each Employment Commission. The conditions are also published on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy - in the section "Policies" - "Employment" - "Employment programs and projects" https://www.mlsp.government.bg/programi-i-proekti-za–zaetost.
05.05.2022
WHAT PRESSURES DO YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WHEN STARTING THEIR FIRST JOB?
The first work is an exciting moment, which, for the greater part of the youth, is connected with a large number of people. More than 50% determine whether the main concern is whether they will cope with their work obligations. This is due to the results of the study, implemented by the marketing agency "Vlue Roint" at the request of TELUS International Bulgaria.
According to the survey, 59% of young people say that they will continue their education in Bulgaria, but only 9% of them plan to count the child as a child. Data from the HCI for 2021 again show this trend - for the past year the current employment rate under the 24-year growth rate is only 22%, which is why this year is the same. To a large extent, the reason for these results is the lack of information of the young people about the opportunities that the market offers to you, because of this.
Another factor, which leads to the motivation to start work in July, is the expectation of what awaits them at the workplace. According to the report, half of the respondents say that they are worried about whether they will have the opportunity to work at work, whether the company will be responsible.
At the same time, among the things that would make them feel comfortable at work, young people define a cohesive team (31.7%) and a pleasant working atmosphere (18.8%), followed by a modern office (17.8%) and competitive remuneration (13.8%).
Apparently provoked by all the allegations, 84% of the participants said that if they had the opportunity, they would start their first job in the morning or later.
The main factor that would influence the decision to start a new job among young people is the level of pay (48%), followed by opportunities for growth in the company, the attractiveness of the position, the ability to balance work and personal life, as well as flexible work time.
To help young people in one of the key steps in their development, namely finding their first job, TELUЅ International Bulgaria has launched the second edition of its campaign "Your first job matters". With it, they aim to inform young people about the opportunities for private development that they offer and to support them in starting a career. The main message of the initiative this year is "Apply with a friend", provoked by the results of the study. The approved candidates will have the opportunity to work on international projects for one of over 50 clients of the campaign from various industries - world leaders in the technology and financial sector, tourism, healthcare and the game industry.
In a special creation of the website of the campaign www.rurvarabota.som young people can prepare CV and apply for the open position in the position.
In addition to attractive positions, TELUЅ International Bulgaria, as the largest employer in the Customer Exercise & Digital lutolution industry in Bulgaria, offers candidates flexible working hours, a team of people from more than 50 different nationalities.The company provides a wide portfolio of services - design, construction and delivery of digital services for the next generation, AI solutions, and services.
The CX industry is one of the fastest growing at the moment and offers stability to both minimal and long-term employees.
05.05.2022
THE ACCEPTANCE OF DOCUMENTS UNDER MEASURE 60/40 FOR THE PERIOD MARCH - JUNE 2022 CONTINUES
We remind you that on April 8 the Employment Agency launched a new procedure for applying for the measure, which gained popularity as 60/40. It may include employers seeking support for maintaining the employment of their staff in the period March - June 2022. This opportunity is provided by Decree of the Council of Ministers № 40 of 31.03.2022, amending the already well-known Decree № 151/2020 to upgrade the anti-crisis measure to support employment launched two years ago.
The terms and conditions for receiving support in the period March - June 2022 are similar to those applied for the previous two months of January and February. The measure continues to support the maintenance of employment in enterprises engaged in economic activity in the sectors specified in the Council of Ministers Decree № 151/2020, whose average monthly sales revenues in 2020 have decreased compared to 2019.
The regulated support at this stage also amounts to 60% of the income and social security contributions of each employee in enterprises, whose sales revenues in the month for which the support is provided have decreased by not less than 40% compared to the average monthly revenues for the whole of 2019. For employees in enterprises whose sales revenues during the month have decreased by at least 30 percent compared to the average monthly income for 2019, funds will continue to be paid in the amount of 50%. For those established after January 1, 2020, the decline in income for the month for which they apply will be determined compared to the average monthly income for 2020. The amount of funds provided for each employee will continue to be determined based on his insurance income for October 2021
The funds under the current design of the measure will be paid monthly, as the deadlines for acceptance of documents are as follows:
- for the month of March 2022 - until 17.00 on 29.04.2022 - for documents submitted in person at the Labor Office Directorate and until 30.04.2022 - for documents sent electronically through the Security System electronic service or licensed postal operator;
- for the month of April 2022 - until 31.05.2022;
- for the month of May and June 2022 - until June 10, 2022;
- submission of reporting documents for the month of June 2022 - by July 29, 2022.
For convenience and in view of the set deadline, employers who meet the requirements of CMD № 151/2020, as amended with CMD № 40/31.03.2022, and wish to receive support for the months of May and June 2022, can apply by submitting only one application for the two months, using the approved forms and sample documents.
At this stage of measure 60/40, the application and the documents for payment of funds under the Decree are submitted to the Directorate "Labor Office", serving the territory of the place of work of employees, regardless of the method of submission. Applications and accompanying documents may be submitted electronically through the Secure Electronic Service System, sent through a licensed postal operator, and submitted on site at the relevant employment office.
On the website of the Employment Agency, in the section "Financial incentives for maintaining employment", up-to-date materials for information of employers, the application procedure containing the conditions, requirements, procedure and manner of application, sample application and appendices are published, as well as other auxiliary materials.
Under the previous design of the measure "60/40" for the payment of funds to maintain the employment of employees in the period January and February 2022 in the district of Montana, 29 employers were approved to maintain the employment of 1384 people in January and 26 employers to maintain the employment of 220 people in February.
05.05.2022
BGN 3 MILLION FOR INTELLIGENT AGRICULTURE
The Council of Ministers approved BGN 3 million for the development of intelligent animal husbandry and plant growing in the country. The funds are allocated for activities under two national research programs of the Ministry of Education and Science - "Intelligent Animal Husbandry" and "Intelligent Plant Breeding", which are implemented since 2021. The programs create innovative methods for building modern farms to work with less human resources and reduced environmental impact.
In the first year of the Intelligent Animal Husbandry program, prototypes, patents, three-dimensional models, profiled intelligent animal husbandry services were developed, and articles were published in specialized journals. In the upcoming second year, the planned BGN 1.5 million will be allocated, which will be used to continue the activities for robotization of the livestock sector, development of models for monitoring and managing productivity/breeding, etc.
Research on the application of artificial intelligence in agriculture is being prepared under the national program "Intelligent Plant Breeding". Ways are being sought to reduce costs for farmers, improve soil management and water quality, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiversity is improved and a healthier environment is created. In the second year, with the planned BGN 1.5 million, work will continue in the direction of automating the crop sector.
The additional funding is within the estimated funds for science in the central budget. The money is allocated from the budget of the Ministry of Education and Science for 2022.
