25.11.2021
SEE HOW TO CALCULATE HOW MUCH YOU GET IN AN HOUR OF WORK
What is the total cost per hour or month worked? The slips that workers receive at the end of the month most often indicate the net salary, and in their books the employers include their part of the insurances, which form the total labor costs.
Apart from them, other factors play a role on the final salary of the employees and the actual full labor costs - hospital, emergency shifts, food vouchers. It is these factors that the new calculator of real wages and real labor costs, developed by the Institute for Market Economics (IME) and available on the website http://cenanarabotnika.org/, adds to the account.
The calculator was developed in the context of an international initiative implemented by the IME together with non-governmental organizations from Slovakia (INESS), the Czech Republic (Liberal Institute) and Poland (FOR), with a common approach and methodology that reflects the specifics of local labor legislation and regulations. The work is supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, according to the Institute for Market Economics.
The "Employee Cost" calculations take into account all expected factors of the employer's gross salary and expenses - pension, health and other social security contributions, as well as income taxes. To these are added several other factors, which mainly concern the time worked - night work, work on Saturdays and Sundays or on public holidays, for which multipliers are applied to the basic hourly wage.
The calculator also takes into account cases in which the employer finances the lunch (or in general the meals) of its employees, as well as the used sick leave and the additional days of paid leave outside the ones provided by the labor legislation. Account is also taken of cases where employees receive food vouchers - a common practice of supplementing income that remains outside the scope of taxation. At this stage, the calculations are valid only for the third category of labor, which includes most workers in Bulgaria.
Of particular importance here is the difference between the final hourly rate and the announced hourly wage - only with the addition of a few night and holiday shifts, a few days of paid leave above the minimum and food vouchers, the difference between the announced hourly wage and the final hourly rate becomes almost double.
Why is this calculator useful?
First, it clarifies the total labor costs and thus allows for a realistic assessment of the cost of labor. Also, activating the calculator at the beginning of a government's term will easily show the direction of its policies - any change that increases the cost of rent will turn on the "red light" for all observers.
Clarity about the full cost of labor will also help to form an opinion in the discussions on the adoption of the state budget, but also in any legislative initiative related to labor or social security legislation. The calculator will also be useful for immediate assessment of the effect of proposals for regulatory changes of trade unions and employers' organizations.
25.11.2021
THE HEATING AID WILL BE PAID AT THE POST OFFICES
From 09.12.2021 to 23.12.2021 in the post offices of Bulgarian Posts EAD a one-time financial aid for heating of persons and families from vulnerable groups will be paid.
The funds are paid to overcome the consequences of rising fuel prices and the epidemic emergency.
Eligible persons can receive assistance at post offices only during this period of the current year. Its receipt cannot be postponed for 2022.
25.11.2021
THE EIGHTH EDITION OF THE "PROFESSION BAZAAR" WILL PRESENT 30 PROFESSIONS WITH A FUTURE FROM 15 LEADING COMPANIES
The eighth edition of the "Bazaar of Professions" will take place on November 26 and 27. For the second year in a row, the iconic career guidance event, organized by the Bulgarian Network of the UN Global Compact, will take place online. There are 15 companies that have accepted the challenge to present fascinating key professions for them and for the future, the organizers announced.
The event will strengthen its position at the largest exhibition for career guidance and will give children and young people between 10 and 18 years, their parents and teachers from all over the country, to get acquainted with a wide range of professions and prospects for realization. "Profession Bazaar" will include meetings with experts visiting a studio, a kaleidoscope of video tours of the participating companies and discussion panels on the future of the professions, with the participation of established specialists. The interviews and discussions will be led by young journalists from TeenStation.
Among the palette of professions in the program is a kind of "parent meeting". It will be dedicated to "Career support for students - how and when to help without interruption?", With the participation of Gergana Rakovska from the Business Foundation for Education.
The professions in information technologies are becoming more and more important for every sphere of our economy and life. The professions of cybersecurity specialist, business intelligence, cloud engineer and video game developer will be presented in a discussion between experts. Virtual reality and robotics programmers will compare their professional knowledge and skills, charting a path for anyone who wants to dedicate themselves to the profession.
Among the most anticipated meetings is the one with the profession of science communicator, as well as with professions in the field of mining and energy - a specialist in energy efficiency and an automation engineer.
The young people will also get acquainted with the professionals who study and care for the earth - geologist and ecologist, they will understand why the role of the energy manager is key to the functioning of each store. Each expert needs specialists in marketing, sales, supply and acquisitors, will take their rightful place with a special panel.
The panel "From people to people" provides a meeting with those important professionals whose professions are of paramount importance for our lives, but are not always in the spotlight. A pharmacist, teacher and volunteer and donation specialist will share the challenges and satisfaction of their work. Young people will look behind the creation of news and will be able to ask questions to journalists. Creative professions, such as actor, writer and cosplayer, also have a place in the Professions Bazaar.
For the first time during the event there will be a conversation about entrepreneurship. In the panel discussion "The future belongs to the entrepreneurs" Ognyan Trayanov, chairman of the Bulgarian Network of the UN Global Compact, will present what it is like to be an entrepreneur.
25.11.2021
SEIZURE OF SALARIES AND PENSIONS: WHAT INCOME IS SAVED FROM SEIZURE?
This question worries more and more people, especially in times of crisis.
Salaries up to BGN 840 can no longer be seized due to debts and people will take them in full. The reason for this is the increase of the minimum wage to BGN 650 from January 1, 2021.
According to the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), in the case of compulsory collection of overdue loans and unpaid bills for telephone, heating, etc., from the debtor's earnings and from the pension received by him, the creditors must leave him an amount equal to of the minimum wage. The debtor must have a minimum wage after taxes and insurance, according to the Civil Procedure Code. With a salary of BGN 840 after withholding taxes and social security contributions, the debtor must receive BGN 651.82, i.e. creditors can now take only BGN 1.82 from him.
Pensions up to BGN 650 will also not be seized, according to the Civil Procedure Code and the Tax and Social Security Procedure Code. Creditors cannot touch lower wages and pensions either. If the income is paid into a bank account, the banks must allow the debtor to withdraw up to the minimum wage (BGN 650) per month.
If the debtor's monthly income, after paying taxes and social security contributions, is between the minimum wage and twice its amount (from BGN 650 to BGN 1,300), debt collectors can take 1/3 of his income, if he is childless, and 1/4 if he has dependent children. If, after paying taxes, the debtor takes between twice the minimum wage and four times its amount (from BGN 1,300 to BGN 2,600), creditors can collect 1/2 of his income if he is childless, and 1/3 if is with children.
If the debtor's monthly remuneration after payment of taxes is more than four times the minimum wage (over BGN 2,600), creditors may take the excess over twice the minimum wage (BGN 1,300), if without children, and the excess over twice and a half of the minimum wage (BGN 1,625), if he has children to support.
Some personal belongings cannot be taken from the debtor. These include "teaching aids, including books and musical instruments, the use of which is necessary for the general and vocational training of the debtor and his family members". This means that if the child is learning remotely, they cannot take the family laptop he is using.
What else can't they take from us?
Debt collectors cannot take the debtor's refrigerator, stove and washing machine. The list of personal belongings against which enforcement cannot be directed due to debts has been determined by the Council of Ministers.
Among them are used shoes and underwear, some clothes, one bed for each member of the family, one double wardrobe, kitchen buffet, tables and chairs, ordinary household and kitchen utensils and dishes, a telephone and a radio.
Most often, private bailiffs take TVs, mobile phones and jewelry from debtors. These items are not protected by law and are the easiest to sell. Their pets, if they are not kept for sale, baby food and accessories cannot be taken from the debtors.
24.11.2021
HOW MUCH DOES THE EU GIVE US TO DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC?
For the next year, Bulgaria receives 139,651,309 euros from the EU budget under the fund intended for overcoming the consequences of the pandemic. This is shown by data presented today by the European Commission.
The EC is allocating about 11 billion euros at current prices to EU countries, and the funds will be used for economic recovery measures, to improve health systems, to support the most vulnerable groups. The Commission expects the funds to be channeled in favor of digitalisation and the transition to a green economy.
The funds are allocated in two parts, taking into account the impact of the pandemic, the commission said in a statement. The distribution is based on data on GDP, unemployment and youth unemployment in individual countries.
The Commission notes that in Bulgaria, staff fighting the pandemic on the front lines have received additional remuneration from the budget, and the elderly and people with disabilities receive health and social services at home. The EU has set up a budget fund with additional funding of 50.6 billion euros to be used by the end of 2023.
The purpose of the fund is to help the economic and social recovery from the pandemic by encouraging the effects of the crisis and the resilience of health systems, businesses and support for the most vulnerable groups.
For this year, the fund has about 40 billion euros and over 90 percent of these funds are allocated for investment programs. The funding was used as a bridge between the emergency measures taken at the beginning of the crisis and overcoming the long-term effects of the pandemic, the EC explained.
24.11.2021
THE UNEMPLOYED EXCEEDED 250,000 PEOPLE A YEAR
The newly registered unemployed across the country for the period from the end of December 2020 to November 21 exceeded 250,000 people.
For the same period, just over 206,000 people were employed through employment offices. This is shown by the latest data from the specialized monitoring of the National Statistical Institute and the Employment Agency due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the last observed week from November 15 to 21, the newly registered unemployed in the country are 5,241 people and are significantly more than the 2,869 people who started working. For this period the largest is the predominance of those registered in the labor offices over those employed in the districts of Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Vidin, Vratsa, Kyustendil, Stara Zagora and Haskovo. In many places the difference is more than three times in favor of the newly registered.
Social experts recall that from December 2019 to December 2020, a little over 418 thousand people were registered in the labor offices, and 249,380 started working.
24.11.2021
THEY EXTENDED THE EMERGENCY EPIDEMIC UNTIL MARCH 31, 2022
The Council of Ministers extended the term of the declared emergency epidemic until March 31, 2022. Until today, it was planned to continue until November 30, 2021.
"The spread of COVID-19 in the country marks the intensive development of another pandemic wave. All districts of the country are affected by the new coronavirus, and in 93% of them the 14-day morbidity is over 500 per 100,000 population (in 8 of which the indicator exceeds 1,000 new cases per 100,000 population). Cases of COVID-19 are diagnosed in people of all ages. A significant increase in morbidity is observed in children and young people (20-29 years). The number of hospitalized persons is also increasing", read the reasons for the decision.
To extend the emergency, the government has also taken into account that the vaccination coverage in the country is 25.53% and is far from the EU's target of 70% vaccinated. "This contributes to the registered high levels of morbidity among unvaccinated individuals, who represent over 85% of all persons infected with SARS-CoV-2," said the Council of Ministers.
He points out that the application of health requirements upon entry into the country by the border health control authorities should continue, as well as the introduction of restrictions on access to the country, which will help reduce the likelihood of import and subsequent distribution of new options in our country.
24.11.2021
THEY APPROVED A NEW MEASURE OF BGN 30 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF TOURISM
The Council of Ministers adopted a Decree on determining the conditions, criteria, procedure and amount of funds under a grant scheme to support the tourism sector to compensate for losses incurred directly and/or indirectly by restrictions on the activities of enterprises due to anti-epidemic measures, announced by the Ministry of Tourism.
The measure, worth BGN 30 million, is being developed as a state aid scheme in the form of grants for companies in the tourism sector that are experiencing liquidity difficulties due to COVID-19. The aid administrator is the Ministry of Tourism.
The funds under the new state aid scheme will be paid after receiving a positive decision from the European Commission on the compatibility of the aid with the internal market on the basis of Art. 107 (3) (b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
24.11.2021
THE NRA OFFERS A NEW SERVICE
The e-mail addresses for correspondence, to which the NRA sends messages and documents to individuals and legal entities, can now be requested and corrected online by customers by using a new electronic service "Access and contact information management".
Holders of a runway issued by the agency or an electronic signature may change the emails and telephone numbers for contact with the NRA for the purposes of fulfilling the tax and insurance requirements.
In this way, the communication between the tax administration and the consumers will be facilitated, significantly reducing the cases of outdated contact information.
The e-mail address for correspondence under Art. 28, para. 2 of the Tax and Social Security Procedure Code (TSSPC) for receiving notifications from the NRA is mandatory for persons registered under the Value Added Tax Act, and for this reason the current email must be one, explained by the NRA.
Each time you update an email, the system sends an e-mail link that requires confirmation before the change takes effect. The change of contact phone number is done in 2 steps, and there is no obstacle to indicate a mobile number, the revenue agency clarifies.
The new service is available under the name "Access and contact information management" in the e-services portal of the National Revenue Agency - https://portal.nra.bg/.
The NRA advises users to provide an up-to-date e-mail for correspondence so that communication with the revenue agency can be done entirely electronically and not on paper.
24.11.2021
THE PANDEMIC HAS LED TO CHANGES IN GLOBAL MOBILITY
The global quest to attract skilled foreigners, especially those in the category between manual labor and a doctorate in physics, is ongoing as the pandemic enters its third year. Many rich nations hope to attract these young workers with fast visas and promises of permanent residence, writes The New York Times.
The disturbances caused by Covid have revealed a demographic imbalance - rapidly aging rich nations are producing too few new workers, while countries with a surplus of young people often do not have enough work for all of them. New approaches to this mismatch could affect the global debate on immigration, especially as European governments differ on how to deal with new waves of asylum seekers.
"We hear the same thing everywhere," said Jean-Christophe Dumont, head of international migration research for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). "If you want to attract new workers, you have to offer them attractive conditions."
In Germany, a new Immigration Act offers accelerated work visas for qualified professionals and 6 months to visit and find work. Canada plans to grant the right of residence to 1.2 million new immigrants by 2023. And Israel recently finalized a deal to attract health workers from Nepal.
The pandemic has led to several major changes in global mobility. It slowed down labor migration. It has also created more competition for "digital nomads" as more than 30 nations have set up programs to attract mobile workers. And this has led to a general easing of work rules for foreigners who are already in the country.
