21.01.2022
THE EMPLOYER MUST ALSO PROVIDE WORKING CONDITIONS AT THE HOME OFFICE
It is the employer's responsibility to provide the work environment - both in the factory, workshop or office, and at home. If he fails to do so, the employee may request an inspection. This was commented by the National Secretary of CITUB Todor Kapitanov in connection with information that the GLI is starting inspections for violations in the work of the home office.
Initially, online questionnaires will be sent to employers related to the regime and working conditions. They will then check for compliance with the rules in the field - including in the homes of employees.
"When your home is a workplace, a domestic accident is also a work accident," Kapitanov added.
When working remotely, the employer must provide the necessary equipment for remote work, as well as consumables for its operation, software (software), technical prevention and maintenance, devices for communication with the employee working remotely, including the Internet connectivity, data protection, information and requirements for the operation of the equipment and its maintenance, as well as for the legal requirements and rules, incl. those of the enterprise in the field of data protection to be used during remote work, a monitoring system, if any, to be installed at the workplace and the written consent of the employee has been obtained, as in these In some cases, his right to privacy must be respected. They must also be provided with other technical or documentary aids in accordance with the individual and/or collective agreement.
The individual employment contract may stipulate the use of the employee's own equipment, as well as all rights and obligations arising from this, Kapitanov commented.
He recommended that conditions be agreed between the employer and the employee to prevent misuse of the equipment, internet and communication connections provided to him. As in this type of work, the employer explicitly determines the time during which the employee is obliged to be available for communication with the employer or his business partners.
The actual time worked is reflected monthly in a sample document that must be approved by the employer.
20.01.2022
HOW TO GET RID OF PHONE SCAMS? POLICE ADVICE
Do not give money and valuables after calls from strangers, no matter who they are.
This is what the police are calling for.
The call is in connection with registered new cases of telephone fraud in various districts in the country. It aims at increased attention from citizens, as well as immediate notification and seeking assistance from law enforcement.
Phone scammers are extremely resourceful. In addition to the old schemes applied over the years, new methods are used to mislead victims.
Advice to citizens:
In case you receive a call and an attempt is made against you for telephone fraud, immediately call 112 or directly to the police department.
20.01.2022
ROMANIA WITH EVEN STRICTER RESTRICTIONS ON ELECTRICITY AND GAS PRICES
Romania will impose even more severe restrictions on rising electricity and gas prices.
The current energy price ceiling will be lowered as early as February 1st, and subsidies for households and some small companies will increase, Prime Minister Nicolae Chuka said.
The government will issue an emergency decree that will limit the price of electricity to RON 0.68 per kilowatt-hour, and the ceiling on the price of natural gas will be RON 0.31 per kilowatt-hour, it became clear after a meeting of the ruling coalition.
Lowering the ceiling on the price of electricity is drastic - over 30%, as the current limit price was RON 1 per kilowatt-hour. For gas, the difference is much smaller - only RON 0.06, as it cost a maximum of RON 0.37 per kilowatt-hour.
The state will also significantly increase the threshold of energy consumption, which is charged at subsidized prices. It will now be 500 kilowatts per hour, instead of the current 300, SeeNews reports.
The new measures will run until March 31st and will cost the Romanian treasury about RON 3 billion (606m euros).
About 6 million households in the country are already benefiting from the ceiling on electricity and gas prices, and will now be joined by hospitals, schools, small businesses and some food producers.
The energy subsidies will be financed by the profits of the state energy producer Hidroelectrica and corporate taxes.
20.01.2022
ONLINE WORKSHOPS WITH POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE INTERREG VI-A ROMANIA - BULGARIA PROGRAMME
On the 17th and 18th of January 2022, two online workshops to present the draft of the Interreg VI-A Romania - Bulgaria Programme and the future financing opportunities took place.
The workshops were organized by Civitta Romania and VVA Brussels and gathered more than 140 participants, stakeholders coming from the Western and Eastern regions of the Romania - Bulgaria cross-border area.
During the events the participants found out more about the joint challenges and investment needs, the main financing priorities of the new programme as well as examples of actions. The attendees had a chance to participate in interactive breakout sessions where they discussed potential project ideas and asked questions related to specific priorities, announced the Program team.
20.01.2022
ARE THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS AT HOME BEING VIOLATED?
The Labor Inspectorate is starting inspections for violations at the home office. From there, they will monitor compliance with labor rules and work schedules for employees who work from home.
Empty offices have become a common sight in the last two years in many companies. In recent months, the Labor Inspectorate has reported a slight increase in complaints and inquiries from employees working remotely.
Most often they are related to the provision of machinery, equipment and consumables, as well as working hours or possible risks in the "home office" mode. That's why inspectors are tightening controls.
Initially, the GLI will send online questionnaires to employers related to the regime and working conditions. And then they will check for compliance with the rules on the ground - incl. and in the homes of employees.
20.01.2022
UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE THREE NORTHWESTERN DISTRICTS IN BULGARIA IS DECLINING
Unemployment in the three northwestern districts of Montana, Vidin and Vratsa decreased in December 2021 and currently stands at 11.3 percent, according to the Montana Regional Employment Service.
In Vidin district for the last month of the year the decrease in unemployment was 0.9 percent, in Vratsa district - 2.3 percent and in Montana district - 1.8 percent.
The highest unemployment was registered in the municipalities of Ruzhintsi - 49.6 percent, Yakimovo - 41.45 percent, Dimovo - 39.0 percent, Hayredin - 36.3 percent, etc., and the lowest in the municipalities of Vratsa - 3.6 percent, Montana - 4.0 percent, Mezdra - 4.2 percent, Vidin - 5.55 percent, Berkovitsa - 6.8 percent, etc.
In December, 1,351 unemployed people started working in the three districts, of which 548 - in Vratsa district, 472 - in Montana district, and 331 - in Vidin district. 531 people are included in training and employment programs in the region during the month, the Montana Regional Employment Service said.
20.01.2022
AN INNOVATIVE ONLINE FORUM INTRODUCES CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO THE PROFESSIONS OF THE FUTURE
An innovative format of a career event is presented by Schneider Electric Bulgaria. The online forum "Smart professions for a smart future" is a family event designed for children between 1st and 4th grade and their parents, for students in junior high school and over 7th grade of specialized schools, students, as well as for engineers and teachers. available for live viewing on Saturday, January 22, and is completely free with pre-registration here: to the forum.
The company, a leader in the digitalization of energy management and automation, announced its plans to invest annually part of its marketing budget, as well as constant efforts by its team especially in promoting engineering professions in our country. The Smart Professions for a Smart Future initiative is also part of Schneider Electric's employer responsibility development activities.
"Dual education and business with universities are very important elements in the development of the professional environment and the preparation of young people for the professions of the future," said Elena Vatrachka, Human Resources Director at Schneider Electric Bulgaria. "At the same time, we want to ignite interest in technology disciplines even from an early age and allow young people and children to peek into the world of professionals long before the time comes to join it," she added.
In the first panel "New Generation - New Skills" the youngest participants will meet with famous influencers. The second panel is dedicated to "Professions of the future. What do we want to be or should we be?” In the panel "Smart factory, smart buildings, smart future" the industry leaders from the Schneider Electric team present the concept of factories, buildings and cities of the future and the company's solutions in these directions. The fourth panel is entitled "Life is work or work is life?" He emphasizes good practices for balancing personal and professional life. During the last panel, participants can participate in two practical workshops: "Machine learning and artificial intelligence - real factory examples" and "What to do and what NOT to do during an interview."
The whole program of the forum "Smart professions for a smart future", as well as the registration form can be seen here.
19.01.2022
BANKS WARN OF NEW FRAUD
The Association of Banks in Bulgaria warns of a new fraud. They advise if you receive a call or email from someone posing as a bank employee:
Do not share personal and bank data, do not install applications and do not open links that have been sent to you by these persons! Do not make payments and do not share received codes for identification and access to your electronic banking! It's a scam.
Attempts at this type of phone scam are becoming more common. People who introduce themselves as bank employees over the phone aim to mislead bank customers and make them take various actions to gain access to their funds.
Most often, under a different pretext, for example, for security issues, they try to obtain sensitive information about usernames, passwords, bank card numbers, account availability and other data.
Never provide sensitive information and identification data to others. Your bank will never ask you to provide such information by phone or email. Bank employees will never make you install remote access applications and try to gain control of your mobile device or computer.
If you receive such a call, be aware that this is an attempted fraud by individuals posing as bank employees to gain access to your funds. Be vigilant and especially suspicious of calls from numbers from abroad, as well as to persons posing as bank employees whom you do not know and/or with whom you do not have a contractual relationship. Often, fraudsters do not have complete information and guess the bank you are a customer of in an attempt to deceive you.
Also, never enter your electronic banking from links you have received by email, SMS or banner ads on the Internet, but only from the official website of your bank and the official mobile application.
If you receive such a phone call, contact your bank and police immediately.
19.01.2022
NEW RULES FOR ENTERING BULGARIA
As of today, new rules for entering the country are in force for countries in the red zone.
In order not to fall into quarantine, those coming to our country will have to present 2 documents. These are a green certificate and a negative PCR test. It must be done within 72 hours before entering Bulgaria. This is ordered by the Minister of Health with his order. It was released yesterday. Among the countries in the red zone are neighboring Serbia, Turkey and Northern Macedonia. As of January 20th (Friday), the "red zone" includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, the Republic of Maldives, Fiji, the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The order reflects the recommendations and proposals made by the tourism sector. However, the tourism industry has expressed concern about these restrictions in the height of the winter season.
And children in the age group 12-18 years, who arrive in Bulgaria from a country in the red zone, will be admitted after a negative PCR test. If such a document is not presented, the children are placed under a 10-day quarantine. Until now, children (12-18 years old) arriving from the red zone were required to provide a negative test result when entering Bulgaria. In addition, they had to show a document for vaccination or illness. Children under the age of 12 are not required to submit COVID-19 documents, regardless of their country of origin.
19.01.2022
UNEMPLOYMENT IN DECEMBER WAS 4.8%
The registered unemployment in the country remains at a record low level and in December - 4.8%, according to the data from the administrative statistics of the Employment Agency for the month. The decline on an annual basis is by 1.9 percentage points.
The registered unemployed in the last month of 2021 were 157,283, which is 964 less than in November and 63,009 or 28.6% less than a year earlier. In December, 21,505 new unemployed people registered with the labor offices, which is 3,145 people less than in the previous month, and compared to December 2020 there was a decrease of 11,102 people. Another 400 people from the groups of jobseekers, students and retirees also registered with the Employment Agency during the month.
In December, 14,167 unemployed people started working. The data from the administrative statistics of the Employment Agency report an increase in their number by 1,036 compared to November and by 1,914 compared to the same month last year. Another 125 people from the groups of pensioners, students and employees have found their new jobs through the employment offices.
The distribution of the unemployed who started work by sectors of the economy is as follows: 59.6% of those who started working in December are employed in the real economy, most of them employed in the general government sector - 17.9%, followed by manufacturing - 17.0%, trade - 16.0%, hotels and restaurants - 8.0%, construction - 4.2%, administrative and support service activities - 4.0% and others.
5,717 unemployed persons from the risk groups were employed in subsidized jobs during the month - 2,956 under employment programs and measures and 2,761 - under schemes of the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" (OP HRD). The scheme "Employment for you" under OP HRD, which started in July 2020 as an anti-crisis measure, has provided employment to over 43,000 unemployed people, and only in December employment contracts were concluded with 2,201 unemployed people.
The provision of funds under the already well-known anti-crisis measure 60/40, the validity of which was extended until the end of 2021 by the Council of Ministers № 322/07.10.2021, continues. Thus, from 12.10.2021, when the new procedure starts, ensure that the employment of more than 105,000 employees is maintained.
The declared jobs on the primary labor market in December were 7,967 or 2,142 less than the previous month and 395 more compared to the same month in 2020, which is typical for the autumn-winter season. The largest share of vacancies in the real economy are in the manufacturing industry (34.3%), followed by trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (13.5%), administrative and support service activities (8.9%), hotels and restaurants (7.6%), public administration (6.8%), education (5.7%).
The most sought-after professions in business during the month are: machine operators of stationary machines and equipment; sellers; skilled workers in the production of food, clothing, wood products and related; workers in the mining and processing industry, construction and transport; security and protection personnel; personnel employed in the field of personal services; staff caring for people; metallurgists, machine builders and related craftsmen; economic and administrative specialists; waste collection and related workers, etc.
