25.01.2024
DIGITIZATION CREATES A NEW TYPE OF TECHNOLOGICAL JOBS IN INDUSTRY, ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
A new Schneider Electric survey reveals that, according to nearly half (45%), industrial companies as a result of digitalization will create a new type of operating technology job over the next three years.
The study commissioned by the Schneider Electric of OMDIA was conducted among representatives of 407 industrial companies - from small and medium-sized enterprises to large companies in Western Europe (UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Sweden), USA, China, India and Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines). The study emphasizes the scale of the global crisis of industrial skills, with talents becoming a key challenge for more than half of the respondents (52%).
At the same time, however, it also points to dealing with this problem. In addition to the creation of jobs, over two-thirds (70%) of participants agree that digitalization will help to deal with talent shortages in view of the potential of digital instruments to deliver much more than performance and efficiency.
While raging the crisis with skills, the workplace in the industry is undergoing rapid changes. The goals for durability and advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital doubles, are becoming more integrated in the workforce. The study found that 45% and 47%, respectively, believe that increasing requirements for industrial companies to achieve environmental and social sustainability will require a significant expansion of existing benefits and competences of factory workplaces.
"Digitization is not only beneficial for productivity and overall efficiency. It is vital for resolving some of the challenges related to the people facing the industrial business," commented Ali Hay Frage, Senior Vice President of production and industrial digitization and industrial Automation in Schneider Electric. "There is a real opportunity for industrial enterprises to optimize and improve roles in terms of operational technologies. By reducing the time for administrative tasks and enabled people to better reach their potential, we can solve many of the key challenges they face these businesses, and help build a more sustainable future."
The future of working in operational roles
The study found that more than half of the respondents (52%) consider the acquisition and retention of talents to be challenging, but one that can be overcome, which shows that the representatives of industrial enterprises share a certain level of optimism in connection with overcoming problems with the workforce.
Three of five (60%) believe that the roles of operational technologies will change over the next three years to moderate (41%) or significant (19%). In addition, the large majority (73%) agree that digitalization will significantly change the nature of the work over the next three years. Three out of every ten (31%) believe that quality control roles are most unfolded or improved by digitization.
The survey also found that in the next three years, industrial companies expect new skills to be requested in areas such as robotics programming and integration (49% of the respondents stated that they do not have or have insufficient skills in this field), as well as in processing, visualization and data analysis (an average of more than 30% do not or have insufficient skills in these areas). While respondents say they prioritize investment in data processing, visualization and analysis, programming and integration of robotics are cited as an average priority of only about half of the respondents. Thus, a key recommendation from the research on industrial companies is to work with partners throughout the industrial ecosystem that can help meet the deficit of technological skills through solutions, training and other opportunities to prepare their workforce for the future.
"The changing nature of the industrial workforce will increasingly require investment in digitization to prepare the staff for new roles and to improve performance and efficiency," said Alex West, a senior chief analyzer for the Industry Internet of Things and Sustainability at OMDIA. "If businesses do not proceed with these investments, they will experience a broader and more serious long-term impact of delaying innovation and inability to compensate for talents' shortage."
You can read the full report, entitled "The Future of Industry," here.
24.01.2024
WHAT IS A ENTERPRISE THAT PROVIDES TEMPORARY WORK
The enterprise that provides temporary work is regulated in the Labor Code in 2011, and its rights and obligations differ significantly from those of the employment intermediary.
The enterprise that provides temporary work is a person concluding an employment contract with a worker or an employee, which is why the employment relationship is established with him. The relationship with the worker or the employee continues to develop throughout the entire period of existence of the employment relationship, with each having independent rights and obligations.
What are the main commitments and rules for enterprises that provide temporary work, in relation to legal requirements?
According to the legal definition of an enterprise that provides temporary work, this enterprise must necessarily be a trader. To acquire this quality, the enterprise must be registered in the Commercial register or the legal entity must meet the expressly defined conditions.
Registration for carrying out activities as an enterprise that provides temporary work is carried out at the Employment Agency after submitting a certain form, accompanied by the documents described in the law. Registration takes place after the issuance of a registration certificate by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy or a person authorized by him. The registration of an enterprise that provides temporary work is for a period of 5 years, after which it must be renewed.
The difference between the registration procedures is mainly in the requirements for individuals. For example, for an enterprise that provides temporary work, an insurance document or a bank guarantee in the amount of two hundred thousand BGN is required, which aims to protect the workers and employees who entered into labor relations with the enterprise, in the event of its eventual liquidation.
There is no such requirement for the intermediary, due to the fact that this person has no obligations to the employees after the conclusion of an employment contract between them and the employer. On the other hand, however, there is a requirement for the intermediary to present documents certifying certain education or work experience, which are not required for registration of an enterprise that provides temporary work.
The revocation of the registration of an enterprise that provides temporary work is related to the termination of the labor relations of the employees sent to work in user enterprises.
The emergence of the legal relationship between the enterprise that provides temporary work and the worker or employee occurs through the signing of an employment contract under the rules of the Labor Code. From that moment, an employment legal relationship arises between the persons, which is terminated according to the general rules regulated by law, which means that the legal relationship between the parties arises only after an employment legal relationship arises.
The legal relationship between the enterprise that provides temporary work and the user enterprises is also regulated in special provisions in the law. The contract between the enterprise that provides temporary work and the user enterprise is executed throughout the time that the posted worker or employee is at work.
Reference:
Art. 107p of the Labor Code
para 1, item 17 of the Additional provisions of the Labor Code
24.01.2024
THERE IS NO CONCEPT OF ABSENCE FROM WORK IN BAD WEATHER, ONLY IN DISASTER
There is no concept of absence in existing legislation under impaired weather conditions. The Labor Code (LC) states that the employee is entitled to compensation when he is prevented from reaching his or her workplace for disaster. The emergency is declared by the mayor of the municipality, by the Regional Governor or by the Council of Ministers. This is commented by the Executive Agency "General Labor Inspectorate" (EA GLI). There is no requirement for written notification, but it is good for employees who cannot get to work due to a declared state of state to inform their employers.
The Disaster Protection Act states that disaster is a "significant disruption of the normal functioning of society caused by natural phenomena and/or human activity and leading to negative consequences for the life or health of the population, property, economy and for the environment , prevention, mastering and overcoming which goes beyond the capacity of the system for servicing the usual activities to protect society."
An order for announcing a disaster must have been issued. There are no provisions that are in cases where the worker at his discretion, at freezing temperatures, for example, decides not to go to the workplace. This hypothesis requires leaving the employer's consent.
Even if you can work from a distance, the worker cannot choose on which days to be in the enterprise or in the office and in which one from home. The remote work should be mentioned in the contract and it should be known at what days such an opportunity is provided. Therefore, in bad weather, if the employee preferred to work from home, it is important to find out about this with his employer, and this should be done in writing.
Discharge
The Labor Code provides for the employer to pay the employer to pay 50 percent of the gross remuneration to the workers for the time during which they were prevented from working, but not less than 75 percent of the minimum wage established for the country. If the employee has participated in the rescue work in the disaster, he is paid the full amount of gross wage, the Labor Inspectorate explains.
The Labor Code allows overtime to work in several positions. One of them is to prevent, control and overcome the effects of disasters. "In these cases, overtime is paid in the general order described by the legislator, i.e. the employer must pay more for the extraordinary hours the work done, as follows: for work on weekdays it is paid with a 50 percent increase, for work on weekends is paid with an increase of 75 percent, and work during public holidays is paid with 100 percent increase," GLI commented.
Care for employees in bad weather
The employer has an obligation in the presence of an orange or red code for low temperatures, heavy snowfall, rain, high wind, etc., to comply with the working conditions when working outdoors, experts remind. This is mentioned in the Ordinance on the minimum requirements for the microclimate of the jobs.
There may be a change in working hours to avoid work in the coldest hours of the day. More frequent breaks, hot drinks and more are also recommended. Providing appropriate workwear, suitable personal protective equipment or collective protection means are also part of the requirements. "Monitoring or means of communication with outdoor workplaces, as well as first medical care and conditions for appropriate transportation to a medical facility in the case of sudden poor health, must be provided," GLI said.
23.01.2024
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON WORKPLACE VIOLATIONS?
Over 220,000 labor violations were detected by the "General Labor Inspectorate" in 2023. 40,160 enterprises with 1,628,790 employees were inspected.
There were 116,688 violations of the provisions for ensuring health and safety at work. 111,983 violations were found in the implementation of labor relations. Of these, the largest number concerns the payment of labor - 24,074. These are the violations that workers most often report, the Labor Inspectorate specified.
In 2023, more than BGN 7.8 million in delayed remuneration was paid to employees. There were 13,362 violations of the working hours, and 14,269 of the employment relations. There were 3,495 cases of work without an employment contract concluded and registered with the National Revenue Agency.
In 2023, there was an increase in the number of cases in which labor inspectors applied the measure of suspension of facilities, machines and equipment, as the detected violations directly endangered the life and health of workers. The measure was applied 466 times, compared to 315 for 2022.
For 2023, 9,979 acts were drawn up to establish administrative violations. The amount of the criminal decrees that have entered into force is over BGN 14.5 million.
The number of work permits granted to minors has also increased, reaching 14,827. In 2022, they were 11,933.
The Labor Inspectorate appeals to workers to report violations of labor rights in a timely manner - while they are still at their workplaces, and to assist the control authorities, which is a guarantee for more effective application of the law.
In order to fully apply their powers, labor inspectors should prove the violation indisputably, which in some cases is related to the mandatory establishment of workers to work at the time of the inspection.
Very often reports are received from workers who worked without a written contract and who were no longer at work at the time of the inspection. They express dissatisfaction that the labor inspectors did not declare an employment relationship, which, however, is beyond the powers of the control bodies, since this violation cannot be established in an indisputable way if people are not welded at their workplaces.
22.01.2024
FOR CHILDREN AT RISK, THERE IS A HOTLINE 116 111
In connection with the latest shocking case of an abused child, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy recalls what is done in such situations. Officials and anyone who becomes aware that a child needs protection have obligations.
According to the Child Protection Act, any person who becomes aware that a child is in need of protection must immediately notify the Directorate of Social Assistance, the State Agency for Child Protection or the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). The same obligation applies to any person who has become aware of this in connection with his/her profession or activity, even if it is bound by professional secrecy.
The fastest way to make a report is by calling the National Children's Helpline 116 111. It works 24/7 and is free. In addition to submitting information about a child at risk under it, every citizen can also receive counseling and psychological support. The telephone line has an established connection with the National Emergency Call System 112, the "Child Protection" departments of the Social Assistance Agency throughout Bulgaria, the regional offices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the regional offices of education at the Ministry of Education and Science. When reporting a child at risk, the operators of the telephone number 116 111 immediately contact the child protection authorities for investigation and taking protective measures and actions.
A report about a child at risk can also be submitted to the official e-mail of the SACP: sacp@sacp.government.bg, as well as on the Agency's website using the "Submit a report" button. Every citizen can submit information and be consulted on the spot at the State Agency for Child Protection and the Agency for Social Assistance in Sofia and in their regional structures.
19.01.2024
WHAT COMPANIES GO BANKRUPT MOST OFTEN IN OUR COUNTRY?
Bulgarians have returned to starting private businesses, according to the latest data from the National Statistical Institute. For the last three months of last year, 10,633 new companies were registered in our country.
Their number is still lower than the period before the covid pandemic, when 11,627 companies were opened in the period October-December 2019, but it is also increasing compared to the last quarter of 2020, when registrations were only 9,438.
At the same time, there is a serious decrease in the number of companies that declared bankruptcy, with 977 for October - December 2023, compared to 1192 for the same period of 2019.
Compared to the same quarter of 2022, the total number of newly registered people decreased by 2.4%, and that of bankrupts - by 14.9%. Compared to the third quarter of 2023, newly registered legal entities increased by 8.2%, and those that declared bankruptcy - by 17.8%.
Most new companies are opened in the trade sector. Of all newly registered companies in the fourth quarter of 2023, the largest number are in sector G "Trade; repair of cars and motorcycles" - 88.4% or 9396 companies.
Expectedly, among those declared bankrupt, again the largest number are in this sector - 76.7% of all or 749.
Many bankruptcies were reported in the "Financial and insurance activities, real estate activities" sector - 95, as well as in industry - 36, and in construction - 30.
The companies dealing with "Information and Communications" survive best on the market, where 92 such companies were registered in the last three months, and only 9 went bankrupt.
18.01.2024
UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR COUNTRY IS RISING
The level of registered unemployment in the country increased by 0.1 percentage points on a monthly basis, and on an annual basis the growth was by 0.9 percentage points and reached 5.6 percent in December.
According to data from the Employment Agency, the number of registered unemployed at the end of the month was slightly over 158 thousand, the increase compared to November was by 1580 people.
The newly registered unemployed in December are nearly 18,300. Compared to the previous month, the decrease is slightly over 6,000, and compared to December last year - by over 8,000, reports the agency. There were 8,800 people who started work in the last month of the year. The largest share of them are in the processing industry - 15 percent.
For the whole of last year, 154,000 people found employment through the mediation of the Labor Offices, 90 percent of them - on the primary labor market.
In December, businesses reported 4,400 jobs, up from 7,500 in November. 20 percent of the vacant positions are in the processing industry, 18 percent - in trade.
The occupations most in demand by businesses are human care staff, sales staff, service staff, educators, machine operators, mining and manufacturing workers.
17.01.2024
RESTORATION OF REGISTRATION IN THE LABOR BUREAU AFTER DISCONNECTION
Any Bulgarian citizen, as well as any citizen of another member state of the European Union, or of another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or of the Swiss Confederation, who is looking for work, can register at the territorial division of the Employment Agency (in Labor Office Directorate).
All jobseekers have the right to register with the Labor Office under one of the following groups: unemployed; busy; learners who wish to work during their free time from studying; persons who have acquired the right to a pension for length of service and age in the Republic of Bulgaria, persons receiving an occupational pension for early retirement, an old-age pension in another country or a pension for length of service and age in a reduced amount, who are not working.
When registering, the person declares his status. After registration, the relevant rights and obligations regulated by law arise for him, and in the event of a change in the declared circumstances, he is obliged to notify one of the divisions of the Employment Agency within 7 working days of the change.
The law sets out requirements that individuals must comply with while they are registered as jobseekers. In practice, it often happens that this registration is terminated for one reason or another, and the individuals themselves look for opportunities to register again. In such situations, individuals face additional requirements that differ from those of their initial registration.
What are the options for restoring registration with the Labor Office after it has been terminated?
When registration is terminated due to "faulty" grounds, it is reinstated upon presentation of evidence of the existence of valid reasons. According to the law, "reasonable reasons" are: detention by authorities; appearing in a court or other state body; participation in military training or retraining, illness and others, certified by an official document, for which the head of the Employment Agency division is notified in a timely manner.
The registration of unemployed persons is restored upon presentation of evidence of the presence of valid reasons within 7 working days from the disappearance of the valid reason.
When the registration of persons is terminated on the grounds of "starting work", but the employment relationship has not been established, it is also reinstated. The employer is obliged to provide each person with an employment contract signed by both parties and a copy of a notification certified by the territorial directorate of the National Revenue Agency.
The worker or employee is obliged to start work within 7 days from the provision of the contract and a copy of the notice, unless the parties have agreed on another period. The employment relationship is considered not to have arisen when the person who entered into an employment contract does not start work within this period. In this case, the registration is restored when the person declares the circumstance of "not starting to work".
The registration of jobseekers is restored after presentation of an identity document and personal submission of an application-declaration to the director of the "Labor Office" Directorate.
Reference:
Art. 20, para. 3-9 of the Employment Promotion Act
paragraph 1, item 26 of the Additional Provisions of the Employment Promotion Act
Art. 16, paragraph 1-8 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Employment Promotion Act.
17.01.2024
AGENCY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES EASES THE CONDITIONS FOR FINANCING PROJECTS FOR SPECIALIZED ENTERPRISES AND COOPERATIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy publishes for public discussion a draft of a new Methodology for financing projects of specialized enterprises and cooperatives of people with disabilities. The main purpose of the normative act is to ease the conditions for applying for the allocation of funds from the Agency for People with Disabilities for the implementation of projects with a social and economic focus. They create conditions for the employment of people with disabilities and increase the opportunities for their full inclusion in society.
The methodology contains a number of measures to reduce the administrative burden and stimulate a wider range of specialized enterprises and cooperatives to submit projects. It facilitates the process of evaluating and ranking the approved proposals and their financing.
In order to stimulate the interest of the applicants, it is envisaged that the period during which specialized enterprises and cooperatives must be registered in the Agency for People with Disabilities will be reduced from one full reporting financial year to 3 full calendar months. It is proposed to drop the previous restrictions for applicants with up to 10 roster members to receive funding for training to increase the professional qualification and educational level of employed people with disabilities. According to the project of the new methodology, enterprises and cooperatives will be able to apply for training funding for the entire roster, not just for employees with permanent disabilities.
According to the methodology, Agency for People with Disabilities will allocate funds for financing projects with a social focus, which include activities to create safe and healthy working conditions, ensuring access to workplaces and sanitary facilities for people with permanent disabilities, as well as for conducting training courses for increasing the professional qualification, skills and competences of the employees. Applicants will be able to receive funds for the financing of business-oriented investment proposals that lead to technological renewal, purchase of equipment, opening of new jobs, improvement of competitive opportunities and financial stabilization of specialized enterprises and cooperatives of people with disabilities.
16.01.2024
FUN SAVINGS CHALLENGES FOR YOUNG AND BIG
Although fast loans usually have less favorable terms, about 25% of Bulgarians resort to them for the purchase of equipment, home repairs or vacations with the family. We challenge you – to start saving from the first days of the new year, so that in 2024 you don't have to take out quick loans.
Are you planning to set up a rainy day fund? Or maybe you want to save some money for a holiday break or Christmas gifts for the whole family? Whatever your goal is, it's easy to achieve without having to sacrifice anything essential.
The Savings Challenge is a fun and educational way to work toward your financial goals. And committing to saving small amounts is also an excellent opportunity to show your children the value of money.
Ready to start saving? Let's look at a few different challenges, their benefits, and how to adapt them to fit your budget and financial needs.
1 Penny Challenge
This challenge is a method of saving money for 365 days. The goal is to increase the amount you save by 1 cent every day of the year. The first day you save 1 cent, the second - 2, the third - 3, etc. On the last day of the year, the amount must have grown to 3.65 BGN. And the sum of all these smaller amounts makes 667.95 BGN. A good amount for Christmas presents and a holiday dinner, right?
It is best to start the challenge in January. Although the amount you save at the beginning is easy to calculate, the challenge becomes more difficult towards the end of the year. This frugal method will help you pay attention to the little things you spend money on every day. It's also a great chance to create positive habits to improve your overall financial well-being.
It's a good idea to use a spreadsheet or note the amounts on a calendar to track your savings progress. Put your money in a piggy bank to watch the amount grow every day. This will motivate you to keep going. And if your partner does the same, you will be twice as rich at the end of the year.
A challenge for kids
The penny a day challenge can also be adapted for young children. The child must set aside 1 penny each, saving BGN 3.65 by the end of the year. This token amount is a great way to help little ones understand the importance of money.
Choose a glass jar or transparent piggy bank so kids can watch their savings grow. In this way, adolescents will develop good saving habits early on.
If the children are older, you can encourage them to save 10 cents each day to reach BGN 36.50 at the end of the year. Or 1 BGN per day for 365 BGN at the end of the period. You might also consider adding compounding interest to motivate them even more.
1 Penny Reverse Challenge
The challenge has the same goal – to have 667.95 BGN at the end of the year. With him, on the first day of the new year, you have to put BGN 3.65 into the piggy bank and reduce the amount by 1 penny every day. This method may be easier for you if you often run out of money around the Christmas holidays. That way, you'll tick off the hardest part, and over time, saving will become easier.
52 Week Challenge
Do you want to have an additional 1378 BGN at the end of the year? All you need to get started is BGN 1. Meet the 52-Week Challenge - a simple plan to help you turn relatively small weekly savings over the year into a big bottom line.
In the 52-week challenge, you save an amount of money that corresponds to the week you saved it. Start with 1 BGN in the first week. In the second week, save BGN 2. Week number 3 requires BGN 3. In the last week, you should save 52 BGN - and in the end you will have a total of 1378 BGN.
26 week challenge
This adaptation of the 52-week challenge is perfect for people who get paid every two weeks. The final result of the saving is the same - 1378 BGN.
The idea is to start from the second week and save BGN 3 (BGN 1 from the first week and BGN 2 from the second week), and then in the fourth week you will save BGN 7 (from the third and fourth weeks). This can make it difficult to keep track if you don't keep notes, but it will help you spread out your savings.
Challenge "1500 BGN"
This challenge is difficult, but the reward is great. With this method, you will save almost 1500 BGN (or more precisely 1456 BGN). With it, you increase the amount you save each day for a week and then reset the next week.
So, on Monday you save BGN 1, on Tuesday you save BGN 2, on Wednesday you save BGN 3 and so on until you get to Sunday when you save BGN 7. Then you return to BGN 1 on Monday and repeat this every week. Keep in mind that saving 28 BGN per week is a more serious financial commitment.
12 month challenge
The Monthly Savings Challenge encourages you to save money every month. The idea is to start with BGN 10 and gradually increase the amount every month. Multiply the month by 10 to calculate the savings you need to set aside.
Thus, in January you will save BGN 10, in February – BGN 20, in March – BGN 30, etc. If you stick to the challenge, your monthly savings will pay off BGN 780 at the end of the year.
The big challenge "7000 BGN"
The last challenge we offer you is the most ambitious of all. To make it more achievable, you can do it together with your partner - a particularly good idea if you're saving together for a mortgage deposit, wedding, car or other big purchase.
The first version of this challenge is based on the "1 cent" principle, whereby you save in increments of 10 cents per day to reach the final amount of BGN 6,679.50, with which you can treat yourself properly during the holidays.
The second option works on the same principle as the 52-week challenge, but with it you increase the amount in multiples of BGN 5 instead of BGN 1. So the first week = BGN 5, the second week = BGN 10 and so on until week number 52 = BGN 260 or a total of BGN 6,890 for the year.
Alternatively, if you are not able to set aside such large amounts, you can save BGN 5 or BGN 10 each week. With this method, you will be able to save 260 or 520 BGN, respectively.
So, what savings challenge will you start the new year with?
