02.03.2022
WHAT BENEFITS DO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVE?
Nearly 50,100 Bulgarians receive a social disability pension, of which 15,308 receive a foreign assistance allowance. This was stated in response to the Minister of Social Affairs Georgi Gyokov in the Parliament.
Just over 21,000 are people with a social disability pension who have a disability of over 90%. 28,500 are those with a degree of disability between 71 and 90%. 1685 people receive a personal pension for military disability, and 151 of them receive a supplement for foreign assistance.
285 people in Bulgaria receive a survivor's pension for military disability, the Minister of Social Affairs said. For people with more than 90% degree of disability with certain foreign assistance, who receive a disability pension due to general illness, occupational accident or occupational disease, the assistance amounts to 30 percent of the poverty line or nearly BGN 111. Financial assistance for these with over 90 per cent degree of disability with certain foreign assistance, who receive a social disability pension, amounts to 57 per cent of the poverty line, which makes BGN 210.
A total of 750,431 people with permanent disabilities received monthly financial support in 2021.
The amount of financial support is defined as a percentage of the poverty line in our country, which is updated every year. In 2021 it was BGN 369, and now - BGN 413. People with permanent disabilities over the age of 18 are entitled to such support.
People with a disability degree of 50 to 70.99 percent receive assistance of 7 percent from the poverty line, or nearly BGN 26. Almost 250,000 people received that amount last year. Persons with disabilities from 71 to 90 percent receive 15% or a little over BGN 55, which are paid to 313,972 people. Disabled people with more than 90 percent degree of disability receive 25% or BGN 92, of which 145,323 people have benefited.
In addition to financial support, people with disabilities are also entitled to personal assistance, the hours of which depend on the percentage of disability. Their number is determined by the individual assessment based on four levels of dependence. From 1 to 15 hours per month are taken for people with first degree, from 16 to 42 hours per month - second, from 43 to 84 - third, and from 85 to 168 - fourth.
990 persons and 34 children with more than 50% degree of disability benefited from the provided social support in the first degree, just over 2700 people and nearly 200 children fell into the second degree, 8753 people and 831 children - in the third, and 32 152- There are more people and nearly 3,500 children in the fourth, according to data provided by the Minister of Social Affairs.
01.03.2022
ACCESS TO THE LABOR MARKET IN BULGARIA FOR CITIZENS OF UKRAINE
The MLSP announces that the citizens of Ukraine can gain access to the Bulgarian labor market in order to work under the following simplified procedures:
The employment of people who have the necessary documents certifying Bulgarian origin is regulated by registration with the Employment Agency. They must also have an employment contract with a local employer for a period of at least 6 months. Additional information about the procedure can be found here: https://www.az.government.bg/pages/zaetost-na-lica-ot-bulgarski-proizhod/.
Ukrainian citizens have the right to seasonal work of up to 90 days in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, hotels and restaurants in Bulgaria without interruption for 12 months. For this purpose, registration with the Employment Agency is required on the basis of a declaration submitted by the employer. Additional information about the procedure can be found here: https://www.az.government.bg/pages/sezonna-zaetost-do-90-dni/.
Ukrainian citizens who have applied for international protection and the proceedings have not been completed within three months of submitting the application for reasons beyond their control have the right to work in Bulgaria without a work permit until the procedure is completed. The declaration of employment of Ukrainians enjoying rights under the Asylum and Refugees Act is made by the local employer who has hired them under an employment contract. Additional information can be found here: https://www.az.government.bg/pages/4ujdenci-po-chl29-bejanci/.
Ukrainians and members of their families granted asylum or international protection in Bulgaria have the right to work in Bulgaria without a permit to access the labor market. People who have refugee or humanitarian status can register as jobseekers with the Labor Office at their permanent or current address.
01.03.2022
HOW TO SUBMIT THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ENTERPRISE
The campaign for submitting the Annual Activity Reports (AARs) of enterprises in 2021 has officially started today, the NSI reminded. For the convenience of people and companies, the single entrance for submitting the annual activity reports, built jointly by the NSI and the NRA, continues to function, i. e. legal entities and individuals will be able to submit their annual activity reports in one place.
As before, this can be done electronically (on-line) in the Information System "Business Statistics" of the NSI.
In connection with new requirements for data collection and reporting for some groups of enterprises, the information system will be available according to the following schedule:
On March 1, 2022
Annual report on the activities of non-financial corporations not compiling a balance sheet;
Annual report on the activities of non-financial corporations compiling the balance sheet;
Annual report on the activity of enterprises in liquidation or bankruptcy;
Declaration for enterprises with income and expenses below BGN 500 and for enterprises without activity.
On March 14, 2022
Annual report on the activity of non-profit enterprises;
Statistical reports for budget enterprises and banks.
On March 21, 2022
Annual report on the activities of insurers;
Annual report on the activity of investment enterprises;
Annual report on the activity of the pension insurance companies;
Annual report on the activity of the supplementary pension insurance funds and the payment funds.
On April 1, 2022
Consolidated annual activity reports.
All these groups of users will have access to the system by the end of June 2022, when the campaign for submitting AARs ends, and a deadline until the end of September 2022 for submitting corrective AARs. The group, which will have access to the system as of March 1, covers over 95% of obligated companies, or over 560,000 legal entities and individuals.
The most significant changes in the annual reporting are related to the implementation of the requirements of the EU Regulation, which requires mandatory submission of detailed information for all addresses where companies operate - the so-called local units.
All forms and instructions for AARs 2021 have been uploaded at the beginning of the year on the NSI website.
If you need more information, you can get it both from the methodologists in the NSI Central Office and from the experts in the Territorial Statistical Bureaus.
If you have any questions or problems with the operation of the system, you can contact the technical support team.
28.02.2022
ROMANIA EXTENDS CAP ON ELECTRICITY AND GAS PRICES UNTIL THE END OF 2022
The Romanian government has decided to extend for another year the existing cap on electricity and gas prices for households and small businesses, which expires at the end of March 2022. Small businesses will benefit from a special scheme that reduces costs by about 20%. Households consuming up to 1,200 m3 of gas will pay 0.31 Romanian lei/kWh (6.3 euro cents/kWh).
The measure, including support schemes for large companies, is expected to cost 14.5 billion Romanian lei (2.9 billion euros) by the end of 2022; the impact must be partially offset by the revenues from additional taxes on electricity generating companies (excluding thermal power plants) that sell the produced electricity at a price above EUR 90/MWh.
28.02.2022
FROM APRIL 1, THE MONTHLY CHILDCARE ALLOWANCE WILL INCREASE BY MORE THAN 20%
From April 1, the monthly allowances for raising a child will increase by more than 20%, reminded by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. For families with one child the assistance is raised from 40 to 50 BGN, for families with two children - from 90 to 110 BGN, for families with three children - from 135 to 165 BGN, for families with four children from 145 to 175 For each subsequent child the assistance is increased by BGN 20. Families with an average income of up to BGN 510 are entitled to such support. Families with incomes from BGN 510.01 to BGN 610 can receive 80% of the full amount of help. The monthly allowance for raising a child up to 1 year is BGN 200 - for families with an average monthly income of up to BGN 610.
It is granted to women who are not insured or do not have enough insurance experience for maternity benefits. The one-time assistance during pregnancy is BGN 150 - for families with an average monthly income per person of up to BGN 610 per person. It is granted to the uninsured or to the insured who do not have enough insurance experience for maternity benefits. From April 1, the benefit for raising a child from 1 to 2 years will be increased from BGN 650 to BGN 710. The monthly allowance for a child without the right to a survivor's pension from a deceased parent will be increased by 30% - from BGN 115 to BGN 150.
In the school year 2022/2023, the one-time allowance for first-graders and eighth-graders is BGN 300. The allowances are granted regardless of the family's income. The one-time allowance for the first child is BGN 250, for the second child - BGN 600, for the third child - BGN 300, for raising twins is BGN 1,200 for each child, and for raising a child by a mother (adoptive mother) who is a student in full-time education, is BGN 2,880.
28.02.2022
HOW TO ANSWER ONE OF THE MOST EMBARRASSING QUESTIONS OF A JOB INTERVIEW?
"Why do you want to work with us?"
This is one of the most frequently asked questions during a job interview and nevertheless confuses job applicants the most.
Your answer to this question helps the interviewer decide if you really want the job or if it is just one of the hundreds for which you have submitted your CV.
"What the interviewers expect when they ask this question is in-depth thinking and a serious approach from the job applicant," Jeff Hyman, chief executive of Recruit Rockstars, told CNBC. Hyman has interviewed more than 30,000 people in his 25-year career.
He and career coach Emily Liu share their best tips on how to answer this question and impress the interviewer.
Details, details, details
Before the interview, research the company by reading recent news about it, social media posts, employee reviews, and the "mission and values" section of its website.
"You really stand out as a candidate when you show that you've put in the extra effort and not just looked at the company's front page," Liu said.
"If you're interviewing for a job at Apple, for example, and you tell the interviewer that you want to work there because the company makes cool computers, you won't get a job offer because a lot of other candidates say exactly the same thing," she explains.
Choose two or three details: This could be the company's mission, its business strategy, or the ability to work with a specific employee, and build your response based on that, Hyman advises.
Find a personal connection
It is also important that your answer is honest and personal to show how much time and effort you put into preparing for the interview, which will make you stand out from the competition.
"One of the best actions you can take as a job candidate is to share what specifically attracted you to this organization," says Liu. "You can say 'I like the reputation your company has built around offering a great work-life balance' or how you help the community through (examples). These are values that matter to me."
Focus on the effect
Finally, complete your answer by describing the immediate effect you hope to have on the team.
"When a company interviews job applicants, it has a problem that needs to be addressed, whether it's increasing revenue, launching a new product or something else," says Hyman.
When the interviewer asks “Why do you want to work here?”, This is a great opportunity for you to demonstrate that you are not only enthusiastic about the company's mission and the opportunities it offers, but also see an opportunity to help solve a problem and have a real effect,” explains Hyman.
After all, companies are looking for people who understand their mission and are truly committed to their work. "A lot of people miss the opportunity to really connect with the interviewer," says Liu. "When you manage to do that, you become the person they will hire."
24.02.2022
HOW THE UNEMPLOYED TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS WITH MONEY FROM THE STATE
The labor offices in the country are already accepting applications and business projects of unemployed people who want to start their own business. This is part of the program of the Employment Agency through financial incentives to promote entrepreneurial initiatives of the unemployed.
One measure enables an unemployed person to receive all or part of the due cash benefits to which he is entitled at once. The aim is to use these funds to help the unemployed to start a business alone or together with others.
In addition, the person may receive additional funds from the state budget in the amount of BGN 2,600 (according to the National Employment Action Plan for 2021), in case he hires another unemployed person under the approved business project without the right to unemployment benefits.
The second measure supports the unemployed who want to start their own business as a micro-enterprise. It provides funds in the amount of up to BGN 4,000 for reimbursement of the expenses incurred by the person for starting the business, incl. for registration of economic activity, initial purchase of raw materials, for purchase, rent or current repair of premises, production equipment, machinery, etc.
In addition, the start-up business person may be reimbursed the costs of the minimum amounts of contributions paid for the Pension Fund, Additional mandatory pension insurance fund and NHIF for up to 1 year after the start of the activity.
Under both incentive measures, the new entrepreneurs have the opportunity to receive additional funds in the amount of up to BGN 500 for used external consulting and / or ancillary services.
An unemployed person who wishes to start a self-employment under one of the two measures must submit an application with an attached business project for self-employment to the labor office where he/she is registered. After approval by an interdepartmental commission at the respective labor office of the business project, a contract will be concluded between the unemployed person and the Labor Office Directorate for providing the expenses regulated in the Employment Promotion Act and set in the business project.
Detailed information on the active forms of providing financial support to promote entrepreneurship of the unemployed can be found on the website of the Employment Agency, in the section "Offering work", "Employment Measures", "Incentive Measures for the Unemployed", as well as in each directorate "Labor Office" in the country.
24.02.2022
WITHOUT EU FUNDS IN 2022
Zero years under the old operational programs are announced by the ministries that manage EU funds, according to data for 2022. Due to depleted resources, some of them will not open any procedures, others have little money and will go to a limited number of beneficiaries.
There are no programs for the new programming period 2021 - 2027 yet, there was a big delay in the National Plan for Recovery and Sustainability.
In this regard, Finance Minister Asen Vasilev said the government would be able to cope with an ambitious plan to make more national investments without EU assistance. On the other hand, it is already clear that the year will be problematic due to high inflation, which affects the implementation of existing and unfinished construction contracts.
In October last year, the Ministry of Ecology announced that it would not publish an annual program for 2022, as it does not plan new procedures, reminds Sega.
At the end of January this year, the executive agency, which manages the operational program "Science and Education for Smart Growth", also announced zero 2022 for new procedures due to depleted financial resources. The Innovation and Competitiveness Оperational рrogram will also not announce new procedures under the old programming period due to lack of funds.
The good news is that there are still several departments that will recruit projects this year. Under the Transport and Transport Infrastructure Program, only one project will be running with direct provision of funds to a specific beneficiary - BGN 166 million for improvement of the railway infrastructure for National Railway Infrastructure Company. There will be a single project under the Good Governance Program - BGN 850,000 for the NSI for the implementation of a single entry point for the submission of annual activity reports and integrated use of data from the NSI, NRA and the Registry Agency. A few more projects will be implemented in 2022 under the Rural Development Program, but even there the resources are very limited.
Under many of the operational programs, finances have been exhausted due to the redirection of funds to measures related to Kovid-19. This means that there will be no risk of loss under such programs, but the year is expected to be quite poor in terms of European funding.
The approval of both the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan and the new operational programs has been delayed and actual implementation can be expected in the second half of the year. The Ministry of Finance has already announced that under the Plan this year we can expect a maximum advance payment of BGN 1.6 billion.
It is unclear whether Bulgaria will be able to cope with the requirement to negotiate 70% of the resource of nearly BGN 13 billion by the end of 2022 and 100% by the end of 2023. We remind you that the business insisted on projects ready for implementation to start without waiting for final approval, which is allowed by European regulations.
With the budget for 2022, the government already promises to have large national investments, despite the lack of sufficient EU revenues, but here too the implementation time is starting to be a problem. It is still unclear whether and how the issue of more expensive construction materials and the already in question construction projects under the European programs will be resolved, Sega reminds.
24.02.2022
VITOSHA VENTURE PARTNERS IS INVESTING IN 17 MORE START-UPS
Vitosha Venture Partners - Fund I Accelerated and Initial Financing Fund KD, managed by Vitosha Venture Partners OOD, selected by the Fund of Funds, closed the fourth consecutive round of financing with investments in seventeen companies in the initial stage of development.
The total value of the investments amounts to BGN 6.98 million, of which BGN 6.77 million are public funds, as the resource was provided by the Fund of Funds under the Operational Program "Innovation and Competitiveness" 2014-2020 (OPIC), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The additionally attracted private capital amounts to nearly BGN 210,000.
Five of the start-up companies, which the fund supported with investments of between BGN 50,000 and 100,000, are part of the Vitosha ACCELERATE accelerator program. The program aims to help participants expand their business, with experts from various fields providing expert, mentoring and strategic support. The companies are:
Outside the Vitosha Venture Partners - Fund I accelerator program, KD closed twelve more investment deals to support start-ups with investments between BGN 150,000 and BGN 1.4 million:
By the end of 2023, Vitosha Venture Partners - I is expected to provide support to nearly 100 start-up companies at an early stage of their development. Small and medium-sized enterprises at the stage of "Acceleration" can receive financing from BGN 30,000 to BGN 100,000. Between BGN 30,000 and BGN 2 million will be given to companies that are more advanced in developing their product or creating a prototype.
Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria EAD performs the functions of the Fund of Funds (FF) - allocates public funds from European programs and national co-financing through specialized financing schemes (financial instruments).
The international team of Vitosha Venture Partners Ltd. manages a fund in the amount of BGN 50.7 million, of which BGN 49.1 million are public funds provided through the Fund of Funds from the Operational Program "Innovation and Competitiveness" 2014 - 2020 (OPIC), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, and the rest is private co-financing.
23.02.2022
THE MINIMUM SALARY BECOMES BGN 710 FROM APRIL 1
At an extraordinary sitting, the National Assembly adopted at second reading the budget of the State Social Security for 2022. The government estimates that the minimum wage will increase to BGN 710 as of April 1. Since then, the maximum insurance threshold will increase, from BGN 3,000 to BGN 3,400. The final formula for this threshold will be changed in the future.
The amount of the benefit for the second year of maternity leave is also increasing, which will be BGN 710 from April to the end of the year.
The minimum insurance threshold for agricultural producers also changes and from BGN 420 it becomes BGN 710.
From July 1, there will be an update of pensions. The minimum pension will be BGN 370 until the end of June, and then it will become BGN 392.52. The old-age social pension will also increase in the second half of the year and will become BGN 180. It was agreed that disability pensions will be increased from April 1, as people with 100% degree of disability with certain foreign aid will receive 160% of the old-age social pension. So far, this percentage was 135. For people with 91 to 100% reduced working capacity, the state will pay 140% of the old-age pension, and people with disabilities from 71 to 90% will receive 130% of it.
Unemployment benefits are also rising. From April 1, the minimum rate will be BGN 18 per day, and not BGN 12 as before. The maximum amount of compensation is almost BGN 86 per day.
