18.10.2023
HOLIDAY PAY FOR A PART-TIME WORKING DAY
For the duration of the paid annual leave, the employer pays the worker or employee remuneration, which is calculated from the average daily gross labor remuneration charged to the same employer for the last calendar month preceding the use of the leave, during which the worker or employee worked at least 10 working days.
However, what happens when the worker or employee does not work full-time (8 hours), but performs part-time or less? Is there a change in the calculation of the amount of vacation days and the corresponding pay?
First of all, let's note that according to the law, the worker and the employee who works part of the statutory working time (part-time) has the right to paid annual leave in proportion to the time that is recognized as work experience. The length of service, on the other hand, is calculated in days, months and years.
For even greater specificity, the law states that one day of work experience is recognized as the time during which the worker or employee worked at least half of the legally established working hours for the day in one or more employment relationships.
This means that when the person is appointed at eight, seven, six five and four, they are entitled to the full 20 working days of paid annual leave.
For employees who work less with working hours of less than four hours, the amount of leave is determined proportionally as follows for employees:
- at 8 hours - 20 working days off;
- at 7 hours - 20 working days off;
- at 6 hours - 20 working days of leave;
- at 5 hours - 20 working days of leave;
- at 4 hours - 20 working days off;
- at 3 hours - 8 working days of leave (rounded from 7.5);
- at 2 hours - 5 working days off;
- per 1 hour - 3 working days (rounded from 2.5).
The gross remuneration for determining the benefits for paid annual leave is the gross remuneration received by the worker or employee for the month preceding the month in which the basis for the relevant benefit arose, or the last monthly gross remuneration received by the worker or employee, unless otherwise is provided.
The gross remuneration for determining the remuneration for paid annual leave shall include:
Reference:
Art. 177, Art. 222, paragraph 3, art. 228, para. 1, Art. 355, para. 1 and 2 of the Labor Code
Art. 17, para. 1 of the Ordinance on the structure and organization of the salary
18.10.2023
RESEARCH HAS HIGHLIGHTED WHICH ARE THE CRITICAL SECTORS FOR WORKERS
Poor work quality, including high emotional demands, high-speed work, and short deadlines, are widespread among several of the sectors and occupations considered essential, key, or critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Particularly in the case of health workers and those working in the care sector. Half of them had busy jobs – meaning their work put their health and well-being at particular risk. The strain these workers face on a daily basis calls into question Europe's ability to respond to future crises, says new Eurofound research, Quality of Essential Workers' Jobs in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It analyzes working conditions in certain sectors that have kept societies functioning in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic. These workers maintained access to health care, long-term care, and other essential goods and services, including food, water, electricity, Internet, and waste treatment.
The study identified 11 critical groups of workers based on data from Eurofound's 2021 European Working Conditions Telephone Survey (EWCTS): health and education workers, office workers, cleaners and waste workers, food workers, managers and legislators, manual workers, ICT workers, scientists and engineers, defense workers and transport workers.
According to this definition, 45% of EU workers in 2021 can be considered critical, as are at least one third of the total workforce in each member state. In Denmark and Luxembourg, over half of the workforce can be considered critical workers.
Each group faces specific challenges to the quality of work and professional life during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, cleaners and garbage collection workers have significantly poor job quality, with many having jobs combining high levels of physical demands and risks with a high degree of uncertainty. The group also stands out as having poor support from colleagues and managers, poor access to training and very limited opportunities for career development.
In addition, half of these employees were struggling to make ends meet, and many had no formal representation in the workplace.
Several critical sectors are currently suffering from labor shortages, notably hospitals and healthcare, education, food and beverage production, industrial cleaning and local and regional government. Improving working conditions and bringing pay in line with the value of these jobs to society is paramount to solving this problem. Policies and practices in these sectors should also aim to develop sustainable work practices, including supporting and developing workers' skills, promoting work-life balance and ensuring public investment in working conditions.
On the occasion of the report's publication, Eurofound's Working Life Research Manager Jorge Cabrita highlighted the importance of improving the quality of work of essential workers.
"A few years ago, people in Europe applauded frontline workers, but if we are serious about recognizing the value of these workers, the focus must be on improving the quality of jobs and developing sustainable practices, including fair pay. This is important not only for the officials in question, but also for Europe's resilience in the coming crises," he said.
17.10.2023
HOW E-PRESCRIPTIONS WILL BE WRITTEN
An explanatory meeting on the introduction of electronic prescriptions was held at the Ministry of Health. During the meeting, the changes that came into effect on October 16 with the amendment and addition of Ordinance No. 4 of 2009 on the terms and conditions for prescribing and dispensing medicinal products were discussed.
In the new texts of the Ordinance, it is stated that medicinal products for the treatment of diabetes (Anatomical therapeutic group A10) and antibacterial medicinal products for systemic use (Anatomical therapeutic group J01) will be prescribed only with an electronic prescription.
"We understand that any innovation is a challenge, but here the objectives of the ministry are clear. Dispensing these two groups of medicines only with an e-prescription will guarantee transparency over the entire process, control over the frequency and improper use without a doctor's prescription, as well as effective tracking of stocks, so that the needs of Bulgarian citizens are ensured in the first place, pointed out the Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Ilko Getov. "If we manage to reduce the use of over-the-counter antibiotics, even by just 5%, that will be a success," added Prof. Getov.
Issuance of an electronic prescription does not cancel a visit to a doctor, as the prescription of medication is carried out after a physical examination. In order to issue an e-prescription, the medical specialist needs to have a computer, a mobile device, an Internet connection and specialized medical software, such are the requirements when working with the National Health Insurance Fund. Crucially, the National Health Information System supports an "offline" mode of operation in which, in the absence of Internet connectivity, events are saved and re-sent when connectivity is restored.
In order to avoid difficulties and facilitate the medical professionals, "Information Service" developed and implemented a free and accessible application - eRx, functioning on mobile phones operating with Andorid and IOS. The developed eRx mobile application is completely free for these devices and is intended to issue electronic prescriptions in situations where the doctor does not have access to a computer with medical software.
A live demonstration of how to work with the application was also made before the representatives of the social organizations, thanks to which an electronic prescription can be issued during home visits or other emergency situations, outside the doctor's office.
The mobile application has functionality for prescribing medicinal products even in offline mode (in the absence of Internet connectivity), and when connectivity is restored, the prescribed prescription is sent to the National Health Information System.
16.10.2023
ARE WOMEN APPOINTED TO MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IN OUR COUNTRY?
One of the signs of a democratic society is whether there is equality between the sexes. The UN has been working in this direction for years, and the Council of Europe even recommended that the share of women in decision-making bodies should be no less than 40%. Bulgaria also promised to work to overcome gender inequality, with a deadline of 2030.
For the first time, the National Statistical Institute collects data on senior and middle-level management positions in all institutions. In the legislative, executive and judicial authorities, as well as in other structures outside them - such as higher education institutions, scientific organizations, public media, public enterprises. The number of positions does not match that of natural persons, as sometimes one person combines several positions.
Out of 22,000 management positions in our country, there are more men - over 63%. The working environment is "most masculine" in public enterprises. The largest number of women are in the judiciary, and true parity between the sexes exists in territorial administrations, scientific organizations and public media.
There are at least 750 people's representatives, chairmen, and vice-chairmen in leadership positions in the legislature. Three quarters are men and one quarter are women. This includes positions in the National Assembly and its administration, as well as in temporary and permanent committees. They are elected from the composition of the National Assembly in order to support its activities and exercise parliamentary control. As a member state of the European Union, Bulgarian MEPs are part of the legislative power.
In the parliament, the gap between men and women is the biggest. Out of 240 deputies, women make up about one fifth. There are so many in the parliamentary committees. And the ratio of men to women in the European Parliament, where 17 people's representatives work, is 12 to 5. This ranks us in 22nd place among the member states, with Sweden and Finland first, whose MEPs are 57% female.
The executive branch abounds in managerial positions. Of nearly 16,000, however, only 5,600 of them are employed by women. We divide the executive power into central and territorial. There are more women in the central office, and the positions they hold are mostly deputy managers, not managers. There are the most women in high positions in the executive agencies, and the least in the ministries. Currently, there are only 4 ministerial seats occupied by women.
Out of over 3,700 mayors in the country - be it municipalities, districts or town halls, the percentage ratio between men and women is about 70 to 30. The same is true of municipal councilors, whose number is approximately 5,100. Blagoevgrad has the most male mayors and municipal councilors, and the majority are women occupying these positions in Gabrovo and Vratsa.
The judiciary can be defined as a woman's kingdom. More than half of the management positions in the system are held by women. Be it in the Supreme Judicial Council, the courts or the prosecutor's office. Of the 1,868 judges last year, for example, two-thirds were women. District courts have the largest number of judges. The highest chance of meeting a female judge is in the Administrative Court - 78%, and the lowest - in the Military Court.
Independent structures include higher schools and learned organizations, state structures, which also include public media and public enterprises. In all of them, the division between the two sexes in management is the most balanced of all the positions listed so far. The only exception is public enterprises, where male managers dominate significantly - with over 72%.
Taking a look at management positions that are not part of state management, we will look for the profile of the working Bulgarian man and, respectively, Bulgarian woman, of active age in a high position.
Among men, the most common position is director, the greatest advantage over women is taken between the ages of 30 and 39. Their share is the largest in construction - 82% of management positions there are held by men, and the populated place where they dominate is Kardzhali.
Women are most often managers, although they share this position equally with the other sex. Between the ages of 20 and 29, there is the largest percentage of engaged ladies, who work mainly in health care and social work - 75% of this field is led by women, and the city most strongly colored in pink turns out to be Pernik.
13.10.2023
ANTIBIOTICS AND DIABETES MEDICINES - ONLY WITH E-PRESCRIPTIONS FROM MONDAY
From October 16, 2023, diabetes drugs and antibiotics will be prescribed by doctors only electronically. The amendments to the Ordinance on the terms and conditions for prescribing and dispensing medicinal products have been published in the "State Gazette" and will enter into force from Monday next week.
The reasons for the changes are to prevent the shortage of medicinal products and to deal with antimicrobial resistance, as well as to achieve the rational use of medicines, stated the Minister of Health's reasons for the proposed draft of changes.
Another reason for the regulatory changes is the Ministry of Health's policy of introducing electronic health care, the strategic goal of which is to improve public health, ensure access to medicines, increase the efficiency and reduce the costs of health services.
The change also aims to prevent unregulated practices that would lead to shortages or shortages of medicinal products, which would endanger the lives and health of patients in need.
12.10.2023
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON WORKPLACE VIOLATIONS?
The control bodies of the Executive Agency "General Labor Inspectorate" (GLI) carried out 35,956 inspections for the nine months of the year. 30,757 enterprises with more than 1,200,000 employees were checked.
The total number of detected violations of the labor legislation is 175,850, the GLI reports. There were 85,781 violations related to the provisions for the implementation of labor relations, and 89,252 violations related to the provision of health and safety at work.
The focus of the Agency's control remains the industries and activities for which the analyzes indicate that they are high-risk for the use of undeclared labor and for the provision of healthy and safe working conditions. These are construction, agriculture, hospitality, catering and trade.
During the inspections, 2,737 people were found working without an employment contract. The data show that the detection of this violation is increasing compared to the same period last year, when there were 2,464 cases of work without an employment contract. Working without an employment contract is not an insignificant violation, with a minimum penalty of BGN 1,500. Employers lose the right to participate in public procurement within three years.
During the period, the trend observed since the beginning of the year of growth in the issued work permits for minors was maintained. 13,210 were issued, which is 23% more compared to the same period last year, when there were 10,704, GLI also reported.
There has been an increase in the number of cases in which labor inspectors have stopped sites, sites, machines and equipment. They applied this measure in 371 cases, in contrast to last year, when it was used 173 times in the same period. It has a preventive nature and is applied to eliminate violations that create a direct danger to the life and health of workers and are a prerequisite for serious occupational accidents. With every act of stopping, a life can be saved.
There were 7,833 acts for the establishment of administrative violations drawn up for the above-mentioned period. The amount of criminal decrees and approved agreements that entered into force is over BGN 10.8 million.
The established delayed remunerations amount to over BGN 7.5 million. After the intervention of the Labor Inspectorate, over BGN 5 million have been paid.
A month ago, GLI announced that they were starting intensified checks aimed at guaranteeing the payment of wages to workers. The focus of the campaign is on employers who, in previous inspections, have been found to be delaying the payment of wages.
12.10.2023
SUCCESS TECHNIQUES
THREE DAILY RITUALS FOR BETTER CONCENTRATION AND PRODUCTIVITY
Effective time management is a difficult task for many entrepreneurs. It's easy to get caught up in big projects and neglect other tasks or making time for yourself. Here are a few things company founders and experts advise you to do to improve your focus and productivity:
Plan breaks throughout the day
One productivity mistake many of us make is working long hours and neglecting to take frequent breaks.
“Our bodies send us clear signals when we need rest, including nervousness, hunger, sleepiness and loss of focus. But we mostly ignore them. Instead, we find artificial ways to fuel ourselves: caffeine, foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates, and our body's own stress hormones," writes Harvard Business Review Tony Schwartz, CEO of The Energy Project and author of "The Way We're Working Isn't Working".
To achieve high performance, according to Schwartz, you need to work the way sprinters in track and field train. This means working with full focus and intensity during the morning hours, for 90-minute "sprints" (but no more) before taking a break. In other words, focus solely on the most challenging and important task for 90 minutes at a time, then give your brain a break and let it recharge. That way, you'll be able to work more efficiently when you return to your desk.
Plan your to-do list items
It's important to take some time in the morning to plan what you need to do for the day. Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and author of Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, says that planning items on your to-do list can help you be more realistic about what you can achieve. Otherwise, it's just a wish list, not goals you can actually achieve.
“The schedule forces you to face the reality of how much time you actually have and how long things will take. Now, when you look at the whole picture, you can get something productive out of every spare hour you have in your workday,” adds Newport.
Turn off notifications
Managing too many notifications can be overwhelming and distract you from important tasks. Instead of wasting time trying to empty your inbox, focus your attention on one or two pressing issues each day and set aside continuous time to strategically concentrate on them.
To avoid interruptions from email, text messages, and social media notifications, consider turning off these notifications during work hours you've allocated to the important task. This will help you stay in the zone and achieve more.
According to a study conducted by Dscout, the average person touches their phone 2,617 times a day. Turning off notifications is a proven way to minimize distractions and be more productive.
11.10.2023
WHERE IS THE GREATEST HUNGER FOR PERSONNEL IN OUR COUNTRY?
After an increase in the supply of work was observed in August, in September it remained almost at the same level.
The number of job advertisements at the end of September increased by 1% or about 500 more offers. Considering the dynamics of the labor market in Bulgaria, this is a relatively small change and it can be considered that the supply remains unchanged.
According to the monthly analysis of the HR company and career site JobTiger, fewer offers continue to be observed year-on-year. The announcements are 3,600 fewer (-7%) compared to September 2022, and this is mainly due to their smaller number in the "Information Technologies" sector.
The sectors with the greatest growth in offers are "Trade and sales" (650 offers more, 6% growth), "Production" (210 offers more, 3% growth), "Accounting, audit, finance" (130 offers more, 7 % growth) and "Administrative and service activities" (110 offers more, 2% growth).
The number of advertisements remains unchanged in the sectors "Construction", "Healthcare and Pharmacy", "Marketing and Advertising" and "IT".
A decline was observed in the sectors "Logistics and transport" (80 offers less, 2% drop) and "Hospitality and catering" (150 offers less, 2% drop).
Share distribution
According to the analysis of the HR company and career site JobTiger, the "Trade and Sales" sector already occupies 1/4 of the job offers in the country. It retains the first place with a share of 25%, followed by the "Manufacturing" (17%) and "Hospitality" sectors and restaurant business" (15%).
The share distribution in the other sectors is also unchanged compared to the previous month: "Logistics and transport" (11%), "Administrative and service activities" (10%), "IT" (8%) "Construction" (6%), "Healthcare" and Pharmacy" (4.8%), "Accounting, Auditing, Finance" (4.6%), "Marketing and Advertising" (3%) and "Art" (1%).
Work from home
The number of offers for work from home and/or remote work also remained unchanged compared to August. Although there is a 2% drop here, this type of offer is only 50 less than the previous month, with a total of 3550. As a share, they form 9% of all listings.
The distribution of this type of offer by sector also remains unchanged: 56% in the "IT" sector, followed by "Administrative and service activities" (17%), the sectors of the outsourcing industry (16%) and "Trade and sales" (6%).
Offer by cities
The total number of advertisements in the leading regional cities increased by 3%. Not all of them, however, saw growth. The dynamics are as follows: Sofia (6%), Plovdiv (7%), Varna (-9%), Burgas (-4%), Ruse (-1%) and Stara Zagora (3%).
As for share distribution in the city of Sofia, the ads are 44%, and in the other cities they are: Plovdiv (11%), Varna (8%), Burgas (4%), Ruse (3%) and Stara Zagora (3%).
11.10.2023
WHEN ARE WE ENTITLED TO ADDITIONAL PAID LEAVE?
When is my employer obliged to give me additional paid leave and under what conditions?
According to Art. 155, para. 4 of the Labor Code the amount of the main paid annual leave is not less than 20 working days. The provision of Art. 155, para. 5 of the Labor Code provides that some categories of employees, depending on the special nature of the work, are entitled to extended paid annual leave, which includes the leave under para. 4.
The amount of leave paid under Art. 155 of the Labor Code (both the main and the extensions) is annual, and with regard to the determination of the specific amount, the law implemented to an employee, the law introduces the principle of proportionality to the time it is recognized as work experience to it S In Art. 156 of the Labor Code provides that the employee is entitled to two types of additional paid annual leave: - for work under specific conditions and risks to life and health that cannot be eliminated, limited or reduced, regardless of the measures taken - not less than 5 working days; -for work on an unnormated working day-no less than 5 working days. The right to additional paid annual leave under Art. 156, para. 1, item 1 of the Labor Code shall be used in compliance with the requirements of the Ordinance for determining the types of works, for which additional paid annual leave is established, issued on the grounds of Art. 156, para. 2 of the Labor Code.
The types of works performed under specific conditions and risks to life and health that cannot be eliminated, limited or reduced, regardless of the measures taken for which additional paid annual leave is established, as an additional measure for the prevention of health risks for workers and The employees are exhaustively referred to in Art. 2 of the cited ordinance. According to Art. 139a, para. 1 of the Labor Code, for some positions due to the special nature of the work, the employer, after consulting with the representatives of the trade union organizations and with the representatives of the employees under Art. 7, para. 2 of the Labor Code, may establish a non-working day.
Employees and employees with a non -working day are obliged to fulfill their employment duties as needed after regular working hours. Working on regular working hours is offset by additional paid annual leave on working days, and work on weekends and holidays - with increased overtime remuneration. If a worker/employee meets the above requirements, he or she is entitled to extended paid annual leave and additional paid annual leave, which leaves are granted on various legal grounds.
10.10.2023
INTRODUCE THE COMMON CHARGER IN OUR COUNTRY
Traders will already sell devices without a charger included, provides for changes to two ordinances uploaded for public consultation aiming to implement the European Directive for a common charger.
Economic operators will be obliged to ensure that information on whether, together with radio, a charger is included, it is graphically displayed using an easily understandable and easily accessible pictogram. It is printed on the packaging or attached to it as a sticker. And it must be seen well and it should be legible, and when selling from a distance - close to the marked price, the changes said.
The said Directive is one of the key acts of the Union legislation for harmonization, regulating the requirements for a large number of products, such as mobile phones and other portable electronic devices, which occupy a serious share in the production and trade of EU goods. In 2022, Directive (EU) 2022/2380 - the General Charger Directive was adopted with which the necessary harmonization of the EU level was achieved with regard to the introduction of a standard charger, aimed at mainly providing convenience for users, as well as Reduction of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (electronic waste) in the context of efficient use of resources and switching to a clean, circular economy.
The requirements of Directive (EU) 2022/2380 relate to all mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones on ears or headset sets, earring headsets, manual video game consoles, portable speakers, electronic readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, laptops.
The main elements in the General Charger Directive are:
- Introduction of a harmonized port (socket) to load electronic devices - USB Type-C, regardless of the brand of the charged device;
- Introducing a harmonized fast charging technology that will provide the same speed when using a compatible charger for an electronic device;
- Introducing obligations for manufacturers, importers and distributors related to the provision of radio equipment and providing users and other end users to be able to purchase new electronic devices without a new charger, which will help to significantly reduce electronic waste. The possibility of a separate sale of the charger from the radio service is graphically depicted by a special pictogram, which enables users and other end users before the purchase to find out whether, together with the radio, it is included or not a charger, which will ultimately provide them with one Sustainable, affordable and convenient choice.
- Improved information about users (visual and written) on the characteristics of charging, through which users will understand how much their charger is compatible with the requirements of their new electronic device. In this regard, duties of importers and distributors are also provided to ensure the presence of a special label placed by the manufacturer.
