16.02.2022
INFORMATION DAY AT THE AGENCY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
In connection with the competitions announced by the Agency for People with Disabilities for funding projects for employment, rehabilitation and integration and building an accessible environment for people with disabilities, the Agency will hold an online information "Open Day" for each of the programs. Participants will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the programs, as well as to ask their questions related to the conditions of application, allocation of funds, monitoring and reporting of project proposals. The information sessions will be held as follows:
Each of the events includes:
If you wish to participate, you can state your intention at the following e-mail addresses of the Agency, taking into account the above deadlines of each of the programs:
Affordable Architectural Environment Program: ahu_dostap@mlsp.government.bg
Rehabilitation and Integration Program: ahu_npo@mlsp.government.bg
Independent Economic Activity Program: ahu_ssd@mlsp.government.bg
Program "Social and economic orientation of specialized enterprises and cooperatives": ahu_stn@mlsp.government.bg and ahu_sn@mlsp.government.bg
Protected Employment Centers Program: ahu@mlsp.government.bg
National Program for Employment of People with Disabilities: ahu_zaetost@mlsp.government.bg
Those who are interested will additionally be sent an email with a link to join the "Open Day" event.
To participate in the event you need to use a computer with a camera or smartphone and download the program "Zoom" in advance.
15.02.2022
UP TO BGN 20,000 FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO WANT TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS
Employers can receive up to BGN 10,000 to finance projects to provide access to existing or new jobs for people with permanent disabilities of working age. The same amount will be used to finance proposals for adapting existing jobs and equipping new ones for people with disabilities. The funds are provided by the Agency for People with Disabilities (APD) under the National Program for Employment of People with Disabilities. Employers can receive BGN 1,000 for professional training of an employee with disabilities.
Documents can be submitted until April 18, 2022 at the APD through a licensed postal operator or electronically at ahu_zaetost@mlsp.government.bg.
Under another program, APD will grant up to BGN 20,000 to people with disabilities to start or develop an independent business. With these funds they will be able to finance their investment costs, construction and repair works, equipment of workplaces, training of staff and the owner of the enterprise, as well as to cover the minimum start-up capital. Applicants must have 50 and more than 50% reduced working capacity and not participate as owners or partners in another company. Project proposals must be submitted by March 21, 2022.
APD also announces a competition for financing projects with social and economic orientation, aimed at stimulating the employment of people with permanent disabilities in a specialized work environment. Enterprises and cooperatives that have at least one full financial reporting year as a specialized enterprise registered in the APD can apply. Socially oriented projects aim to help employers from specialized work environments to provide adequate working conditions for people with permanent disabilities working in them. The maximum amount of the subsidy is BGN 40,000. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2022.
Business-oriented projects aim to increase the competitiveness of specialized enterprises and cooperatives of people with permanent disabilities by technological renovation of machinery and equipment, introduction of new technologies and re-equipment of existing and creation of new jobs for people with permanent disabilities. To finance such proposals, the AHU grants up to BGN 80,000. Documents must be submitted by April 11, 2022.
The Agency for People with Disabilities will also finance projects for the establishment of Protected Employment Centers. It is open to specialized enterprises and cooperatives of people with disabilities, occupational health facilities, as well as any organization of people with disabilities registered under current legislation. Each Protected Employment Center must provide conditions for the creation of work skills and habits of at least 15 people with multiple permanent disabilities, along with the provision of a minimum package of personal support services. The maximum amount of the allocated funds for one project proposal is up to BGN 618 000. The deadline for applications is April 26, 2022.
APD is also recruiting project proposals for building an accessible architectural environment of cultural, historical and sports sites for people with disabilities. State, municipal, economic and non-governmental organizations that own or manage the sites can apply for this program. The agency will also provide funds for proposals for rehabilitation and integration of people with disabilities.
More information can be found on the website of the Agency for People with Disabilities.
15.02.2022
ROMANIA IS LOOKING FOR THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN WORKERS
In an effort to cover at least some of the labor market shortages, Romania has doubled the number of work permits for foreign nationals from outside the European Union. Up to 100,000 workers from outside the bloc could be recruited by Romanian companies this year, a record number and twice as many as last year, Romanian media reported.
Over the last decade, more than 100,000 workers from non-EU countries have come to work in Romania. An unskilled worker from Asia earns an average of 500 euros a month, according to Digi 24 television.
The country is looking for workers in a wide range of industries - from construction, hotels and restaurants to professional drivers, car repair shops, bakery and confectionery.
For last summer's season, hoteliers in Romania relied heavily on workers from non-EU countries for lack of an alternative to the internal labor market, the chairman of the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation, Kalin Ile, told the state news agency Agerpress.
According to him, the hotel industry is making great efforts to increase salaries in the sector and make it more attractive, so as to attract Romanians who have gone to work abroad. Nearly 5 million Romanians live outside the country, most of them in search of better pay. Another sector of the economy that is experiencing severe labor shortages is construction.
Romanians are going to the West, looking for Asians
Romania's workforce is aging, and companies have to deal with competition in the European market, where many Romanians go to work. "We qualify for the West. For example, Germany says it needs 400,000 workers a year. We have hundreds of Romanian companies that have no one to work with," Christian Parvan, chairman of the Association of businessmen in Romania, told Free Europe.
Companies in Romania are looking for workers mainly from Asia - India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka. Parvan explains this with the serious competition on the European market. "Why would a Ukrainian come to Romania instead of going to Germany or Poland, where offers are better?" he asks rhetorically.
Kathleen Vishan, director of the Conlex construction company, expects 70 Tajiks and 30 Pakistanis to arrive. Nearly half of the 600 workers are foreigners. The monthly expenses for a foreign worker reach 1,200 euros, of which 600-700 euros represent a salary, and the rest are the employer's expenses for accommodation and food.
Vishan admits he cannot find Romanian workers in the long run. "If I find Romanians, they stay for 2-3 days and leave. On the other hand, it is more attractive for them to go to work in Germany, where they are offered 3,000-3,500 euros," said the construction contractor.
In 2022, the number of construction workers rose to nearly 420,000 from 330,000 last year, according to data from the Federation of Construction Company Owners. The cost of a foreign worker is higher than that of a Romanian worker, the organization said.
To address the shortage of workers, business organizations have planned a training system for those wishing to come to work in the country. "We want to make a vocational training system because we saw that the state failed, even though it made programs for vocational high schools," said Adriana Iftime, general manager of the Federation of Employers of Construction Companies.
The increased quota for workers of non-European origin will help companies complete their projects, especially in construction, and will solve some of their problems. "In the construction sector, working with the Asian workforce is not necessarily the easiest. The workers who come from there are not the best craftsmen. We have to work with workers from different cultures, with different sentimental behaviors, different religions," Iftime said.
Romanian employers prefer local employees, but there is nowhere to get them. "Not only do we not have them, but we have nowhere to attract young people to the construction sector," she said.
Foreign workers are also in demand in the transport sector. "We need more than 100,000 drivers for companies in the country. And now we have foreign drivers from Asian countries, especially Sri Lanka," said Vasile Stefanescu, president of the Confederation of Licensed Operators and Carriers in Romania.
Demand for foreign labor for the Romanian market was strong last year, despite the pandemic, Free Europe notes. In the period January - August 2021, the number of companies that requested the issuance of certificates of labor from abroad was 6518 compared to 4135 in 2020.
The problem with bureaucracy
At the same time, recruitment companies say hiring a foreign worker sometimes takes eight months due to bureaucracy. The average waiting period depends on the country from which the workers come. For some countries, such as Nepal, India and Bangladesh, there is a single embassy in Delhi with few staff. You have to wait 5 months for a visa, says Melania Pop from a recruitment company.
A larger quota for foreign workers in Romania is at the request of local businesses so that they can operate this year. Romanian authorities are in talks to replenish consular staff where needed, but restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic have created problems in this regard, Labor Minister Marius Budi told Digi 24.
According to Iosi Peisah, who works for a foreign recruitment company, it is necessary to supplement the number of staff in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, the Immigration Inspectorate and the Romanian Embassy, respectively, in order to cope the system with the large number of visas and speed up the process.
15.02.2022
THE NATIONAL CONSUMER COOPERATIVE OF THE BLIND IN BULGARIA WAS RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The government recognized the National Consumer Cooperative of the Blind in Bulgaria as a nationally representative organization of people with disabilities for a period of four years. The cooperative carries out labor and professional inclusion of its members and helps to meet their interests and needs in connection with their socialization in society. The activities of the organization are aimed at employment, material support and organization of training courses according to the needs of its members.
15.02.2022
OPIC IS PREPARING A PROCEDURE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES IN SMES
The Managing Authority of the Operational Program "Innovation and Competitiveness" 2014-2020 (OPIC) prepares documentation for announcing a procedure for Energy Efficient Technologies in SMEs. The funds are from the tranche for 2022 of the REACT-EU instrument and amount to about 70 million euros (136,226,120 BGN) and are planned to be used to restore the investment activity of enterprises, seriously hampered by restrictive measures in connection with COVID-19, and find it difficult to cope with the transition to a green economy. Support for SMEs will also contribute to the achievement of climate goals, as required by the REACT-EU Regulation.
The prepared measure aims to increase the investment of SMEs in energy efficient technologies. This is particularly important in the context of rising electricity and gas prices. It will also contribute to the achievement of the overall cumulative goal of energy savings for the period 2021. - 2030, enshrined in the Integrated Plan in the field of energy and climate of Bulgaria.
The indicative date for announcing the measure is the end of March 2022.
11.02.2022
IS IT WORTH INVESTING IN AGRICULTURAL LAND?
Investments in this sector not only complement the rich palette of security opportunities and savings growth, there are also a number of advantages.
The pandemic of the last two years has triggered a series of crises that have had a serious impact on economic life and financial flows. Global supply problems, economic recovery in 2021, rising energy prices have awakened the monster of inflation. However, all this comes at a time when the savings of companies and individuals are growing once again, banks have huge reserves, at least at the beginning of the new year continue to give low-interest loans, but also increase fees for account maintenance and deposits. These accumulations affect savings, create worries about where and how to save them until this perfect storm passes. Some of this capital was invested in the real estate market, which led to its strong dynamics and rising prices, and others were invested in cryptocurrencies. Many investors used their money to buy shares in companies traded on stock exchanges, thus providing a temporary haven for their funds.
Avalanche growth
While high-risk dynamics are emerging in other markets, agricultural land and the agricultural business are proving to be an undervalued asset. In recent years, investment here has grown exponentially. Agricultural land is bought not only for the production of various crops, which are sold at a profit on world markets. But it also has sustainable and predictable potential for development.
According to data from the National Statistical Institute for the period from 2010 to 2020 (there are still no statistics for 2021) the fields in Bulgaria have risen almost four times - from BGN 279 average price per decare to BGN 1,042. In Northeastern Bulgaria black earth even reaches prices of BGN 1,470 per decare. The pandemic does not directly reflect on the land market and according to preliminary estimates of the Bulgarian Association of Agricultural Landowners (BAAL), the persistent trend of rising prices continues last year.
Hidden benefits
Investing in agricultural land and agricultural business not only complements the rich palette of opportunities for security and growth of savings and financial capital. But there are a number of advantages. After Bulgaria's accession to the EU, investments in this market have proven to be one of the most stable. In addition to profits from rising land prices, but also cash flows from rents and subsidies from EU funds. For rent alone, for example, for the period from 2018 to 2021, revenues have increased from BGN 49 to BGN 57 per decare, according to BAAL data.
Land users - due to political and economic uncertainty and probably for purely savings reasons, are increasingly resorting to buying land. This creates a constant demand, but with a shortage of supply, which turns this real estate into a valuable asset.
European subsidies, access to technology, information and education have created a rich stratum of farmers that is a worldwide phenomenon. In addition, there is predictability and self-regulation in the agricultural land market among business organizations that maintain a high professional standard. There are active branch organizations in Bulgaria that protect the interests of investors before the institutions.
Opportunities
If someone is interested in buying agricultural land, but does not have enough time, money and knowledge, here is a working solution - shares or stakes in companies that invest in agricultural land. It is important that they are traded on a regulated market (stock exchange) and are as transparent as possible to ensure the peace of mind of depositors.
Another opportunity is to start an agricultural business and become one of the successful farmers. However, for this you need to find the right place and location, consolidated territory. And to gain the trust of people who have land and are willing to sell or rent it for a long enough period of time. In some western countries there are programs for early retirement of farmers, with which the state buys farms and resells them to those wishing to engage in agricultural business. In Bulgaria, however, you have to do it yourself.
What are the advantages of the agricultural business?
You can produce products that are always in demand and supported by European funds and the state. You also own real estate that you can sell at a profit at any time. According to national statistics in Bulgaria, the average increase in the price of agricultural land in the last decade is over 10% per year.
What are the disadvantages?
Owning an "open-air factory" and being dependent on climatic conditions and change is hardly the safest investment. But there is a solution for this and successful farmers are proving it. Probably the most difficult part is entering the agricultural business. How can the people you rely on trust you to rent you their land if you do not have a history and experience as a farmer. How do you persuade older people, for whom the earth is valuable, to let you manage it? The solution is to buy an agricultural business and secure a history, rented land, and why not own land. However, there is no ready solution for this endeavor either. Some begin to search through acquaintances, friends and find. Here, however, you are also facing the competition of large farmers and landowners who are constantly growing their business.
Profits with prospects
Like any economic sector, this one has peculiarities, and its players have a distinctive behavior and profile. There are several types of sellers of agricultural business:
In any case, you need to be prepared and react quickly if you want to invest in the agricultural business, because interest is growing. The profit realized by some farmers per decare of land can be from BGN 50/decare to over BGN 100/decare, depending on their ingenuity, knowledge and skills. Farmers who work with 100,000 decares of land can earn between BGN 5 million and over BGN 10 million a year. And this perspective gives a wide range and opportunities for the price of owning such a business.
Source: Manager magazine
08.02.2022
IN WHICH SECTORS ARE MOST SOUGHT AFTER WORKERS
At the end of January 2022, we see a rapid recovery in the number of job postings. It has increased by as much as 70%, as compared to January 2021 this increase is 55%, according to a study by JobTiger.
Two-digit and three-digit increase in ads is observed in all industries. The largest growth was in the construction sector (108%), followed by production (93%), marketing and advertising (91%) and accounting, auditing, finance (85%).
In the other sectors the growth of advertisements is as follows: "Administrative and service activities" (76%), "Health and pharmacy" (75%), "Hotels and restaurants" (72%), "Trade and sales" (67%) , Logistics and Transport (21%) and IT (20%).
On an annual basis, again, in almost every sector we see a double-digit increase in job advertisements. It is highest for the Hotel and Restaurant sector (163%) and lowest for the Logistics and Transport sector (6%).
The share distribution of the announcements by sectors:
After taking the lead in December, the IT sector lost first place with a share of 17% and again ranked second after Trade and Sales (21%).
They are followed by the sectors "Production" (15%), "Administrative and service activities" (11%), "Hotels and restaurants" (10.6%), "Logistics and transport" (6%), Construction (5.3%), Accounting, Auditing, Finance (4.8%), Health and Pharmacy (4.2%), Marketing and Advertising (3.6%) and Art (1%).
Work from home
Proposals for work from home and/or telecommuting have increased by 51% compared to December, and their share in the total number of ads is 14.9%. Again, as in previous months, they are most numerous in the IT sector (66%), followed by Administrative and service activities (15%) and the outsourcing industry (14%) and Trade and sales (5%).
Ads with a requirement to have a green certificate
The number of proposals required for a green certificate (certifying a completed cycle of vaccination against COVID-19 or its disease) is 170. Although their number is gradually increasing, they still represent only 0.6% of the total number of ads.
Supply by cities
The proposals in the capital occupy a share of 49% of the total number, and in the other cities the distribution is: Plovdiv (10%), Varna (8%), Burgas (3%), Ruse (3%) and Stara Zagora (2%).
Together, the ads in these cities make up 75% of the proposals in the country.
08.02.2022
THE UNEMPLOYED HAVE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE STARTED WORKING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
5360 are newly registered unemployed across the country in the first week of February - according to data from the National Statistical Institute and the Employment Agency.
For the period January 31 - February 6, 3,288 people came to work through the labor offices.
The results of the specialized labor market monitoring show that since the beginning of the year the newly registered unemployed exceed 30,000 people.
For the period January 3 - February 6, the number of employed through the Labor Offices is twice less - 14,540 people. In the last observed week from January 31 to February 6, most were registered in the Labor Offices in the districts of Sofia, capital, Plovdiv and Blagoevgrad.
At the same time, those who started working in this period are mostly also in the capital and Plovdiv region, as well as in Pleven.
04.02.2022
ACCELERATION AND START-UP FUNDING FUND TO SUPPORT START-UPS
Konstantina Voynova, expert in the Financial Instruments Department of the Fund of funds, Yavor Gochev, Investment Manager at Innovation Capital, and Kamen Bankovski, Investment Manager at Vitosha Venture Partners, talk more about the activities, results and mechanisms of the Fund for Acceleration and initial funding in the podcast "Fund of Funds: Mission Funding" hosted by Zhivka Popatanasova.
The Acceleration and Initial Funding Fund supports entrepreneurship and the growth capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises. It improves the access of young and developing entrepreneurs to financing and the transition of the Bulgarian economy to one based on knowledge, said Konstantina Voynova.
"The projects are financed under the Operational Program for Innovation and Competitiveness with a resource from the European Regional Development Fund, as well as from a national resource," she said.
She added that the resource the organization manages and provides is nearly 71 million euros. The Acceleration and Initial Funding Fund is divided into 3 parts. The first two funds are Innovation Capital and Vitosha Venture Partners. The third fund is called New Vision 3 and it supports companies in a slightly more advanced start-up. The first two funds also support companies that are in the early stages of development, such as pre-seed and acceleration.
"Since its inception, the funds have provided or will provide funding in a very short time to more than 130 companies," she added.
Together with the mobilized private resource, the funds that reach the final recipients are nearly 43 million euros.
The main task of the fund, says Yavor Gochev, is to manage the funds and find the best prospects for companies that will benefit from financial support and develop sustainable businesses that will grow.
"We are talking about venture capital here and we do not rule out the possibility that some of these companies will fail and go bankrupt," he said.
Kamen Bankovski says that when investing in such companies, the funds often try to find out whether a certain business with secured capital will be able to reach the next stage of development quickly enough. This stage can be to achieve sustainability - the company to place products or services on the market well enough to sustain its operations, to develop and continue to grow, or to show good enough indicators to be financed again by another fund.
03.02.2022
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SKIMMING DEVICES - EASY RULES FOR SAFE MONEY WITHDRAWAL
Skimming devices placed in ATMs can be identified if users carefully inspect the machines before using them.
The international financial services provider Euronet advises following a few simple rules to minimize the risk of fraud when withdrawing funds from ATMs. The company's experts emphasize that 80% of all payments in Bulgaria are in cash and therefore it is crucial that consumers are well informed on how to use an ATM safely and protect their money.
Check for skimming devices
Skimming devices are card readers that are installed in the ATM and can be disguised in such a way as to look like part of it. The devices in question steal the data on the card and subsequently the money in it can be easily withdrawn by fraudsters. The first basic rule before users put their card in the ATM is to try to move the keyboard to see if it is part of the machine, or on the original is placed a fake. An important step in checking the ATM device is to try to move the plastic part around the bank card slot. Another golden rule is that when entering the PIN code, always cover the keyboard with your hand in case an illegal camera is placed around.
Carefully choose the location of the ATM and estimate the withdrawal time
Euronet advises avoiding withdrawing money from ATMs in locations that do not appear to be safe enough, such as empty dark streets and places without any security measures. In addition, using an ATM device at night is not recommended unless it is located in a busy area.
Keep the note
And machines make mistakes. The ATM receipt is proof of a transaction, so consumers must keep it in case a case arises. Another reason not to throw the note in the trash next to the ATM device is that it contains a lot of important data. If information such as your name and account number falls into the wrong hands, you can get into serious trouble. Criminals will certainly find a way to use this data for fraud.
Ask the experts
If you are concerned that the ATM may have security issues, then be sure to contact the machine operator. The contacts should usually be written on the device itself. Most customer service centers are available around the clock to resolve various cases, so it is better to seek help instead of taking risks. You need to do the same, not only if you are worried about the security of the ATM, but also if you have a problem with withdrawing money. In this case, it is important to note that the reason may not be the machine you are using, but your bank card. So contact both the ATM operator and your bank to make sure everything is in order.
