Living and Working Living and Working

in Bulgariain Bulgaria

CyprusCyprus -- European Job Days European Job Days Nicosia, 22Nicosia, 22 -- 23 November 201323 November 2013

BulgariaBulgaria

Area (sq. km) Area (sq. km)   110 994110 994PopulationPopulation    7 204 6877 204 687CapitalCapital    SofiaSofiaOfficial languageOfficial language    BulgarianBulgarianGovernment type Government type   Parliamentary Parliamentary republicrepublicNational currencyNational currency    Bulgarian lev (BGN)Bulgarian lev (BGN)Exchange rate BGN / €Exchange rate BGN / € - - 1.95 / 11.95 / 1Time zoneTime zone GTMGTM + +FlagFlag

Registration Registration proceduresprocedures

• up to 3 monthsup to 3 months - stay only with an - stay only with an ID card/passportID card/passport

• up to 5 yearsup to 5 years – – a long term residence certificatea long term residence certificate If theyIf they

- work / are self-employed- work / are self-employed- are enrolled in an education course (incl. - are enrolled in an education course (incl. vocational vocational training) training)

- prove that they have enough funds for living- prove that they have enough funds for living• after a 5-year periodafter a 5-year period – – a permanent residence a permanent residence

certificatecertificate

The residence certificates are issued by the The residence certificates are issued by the Regional Regional Directorate of Interior Affairs Directorate of Interior Affairs (Migration Directorate)(Migration Directorate) www.mfa.government.bgwww.mfa.government.bg

AccommodationAccommodation

How to find accommodation?How to find accommodation?• National and regional daily newspapers National and regional daily newspapers • InternetInternet

www.imot.bgwww.imot.bgwww.accommodation-bg.comwww.accommodation-bg.comwww.nami.bg.comwww.nami.bg.com

• Real Estate Agencies Real Estate Agencies

The rent of an apartment per month The rent of an apartment per month //without heating/:without heating/:from € 300 - € 600 in Sofia from € 300 - € 600 in Sofia from € 150 - € 300 in small towns. from € 150 - € 300 in small towns.

Rental contracts /a deposit for rent is common/Rental contracts /a deposit for rent is common/

Cost of livingCost of living

BGN BGN EUREUR

Bread 1kgBread 1kg 1.50 1.50 0.770.77

Milk 1LMilk 1L 2.00 2.00 1.021.02

Butter 250 gButter 250 g 1.50 1.50 0.770.77

Cheese 1kgCheese 1kg 16.0016.00 8.008.00

Beef 1kgBeef 1kg 12.0012.00 6.136.13

Flour 1kgFlour 1kg 1.201.20 0.610.61

Beer 0.33Beer 0.33 1.201.20 0.610.61

Cola 1.5LCola 1.5L 1.901.90 0.970.97

Coffee 250 gCoffee 250 g 2.50 2.50 1.281.28

Bus/tram ticketBus/tram ticket 1.001.00 0.510.51

Petrol 1LPetrol 1L 2.80 2.80 1.431.43

Health systemHealth system

•A personal medical specialist - GPA personal medical specialist - GP •Medical professionals and medical institutions that Medical professionals and medical institutions that have sighed contracts with the have sighed contracts with the National Health National Health Insurance FundInsurance Fund / /www.nhif.bgwww.nhif.bg//

•A A visit taxvisit tax - BGN 2.90 or EUR 1.38 - BGN 2.90 or EUR 1.38•A A bed taxbed tax in a hospital - BGN in a hospital - BGN 55..880 for each day (for 0 for each day (for the first 10 daysthe first 10 days annually)annually)• Persons without due health insurances pay the Persons without due health insurances pay the taxes and the full cost of the medical services they taxes and the full cost of the medical services they receivedreceived

•Private hospitalsPrivate hospitals

Childcare and EducationChildcare and Education

•Kindergartens Kindergartens •Education - Education - obligatory obligatory for children from 7 to 16 years old for children from 7 to 16 years old •The state school education is The state school education is free for:free for:

- - Bulgarian citizens Bulgarian citizens - permanent residents of Bulgaria - permanent residents of Bulgaria - children of EU/EEA and Switzerland nationals working in Bulgaria- children of EU/EEA and Switzerland nationals working in Bulgaria

•The education system in Bulgaria includes:The education system in Bulgaria includes:

• secondary educationsecondary education- basic educationbasic education - from 1 - from 1stst to 4 to 4thth grade grade- pre-high school pre-high school - from 5- from 5thth to 8 to 8thth grade grade- high school high school - from 8- from 8thth to 12 to 12thth grade grade

• higher (university) educationhigher (university) education

Ministry of Education-Ministry of Education- www.minedu.government.bgwww.minedu.government.bgRecognition of Diplomas -Recognition of Diplomas - http://regprof.nacid.bghttp://regprof.nacid.bg

Labour MarketLabour Market

Unemployment rate – approx. 11-12%Unemployment rate – approx. 11-12%

Surpluses:Surpluses:

People without qualificationPeople without qualification People with outdated qualificationsPeople with outdated qualifications

Labour MarketLabour Market

Surpluses:Surpluses:

Registered in Labour Offices Registered in Labour Offices

in January – June of 2013 - unemployed in January – June of 2013 - unemployed staff/workers from:staff/workers from:

– processing industries processing industries – tradetrade– constructionconstruction– real estate brokers/operationsreal estate brokers/operations– transport transport – hotels and restaurants (hospitality sector)hotels and restaurants (hospitality sector)– agriculture, woods, fisheryagriculture, woods, fishery

Labour MarketLabour Market

Shortages :Shortages : IT sectorIT sector Staff with foreign languagesStaff with foreign languages Registered in Labour Offices Registered in Labour Offices in January – June of 2013: staff/workers in: in January – June of 2013: staff/workers in:

– hotels and restaurants hotels and restaurants – processing industries processing industries – shop assistants and sales persons shop assistants and sales persons – agriculture, woods, fishery, gardening, cattle agriculture, woods, fishery, gardening, cattle

breedingbreeding– workers in tailoring and textile enterprises workers in tailoring and textile enterprises – administrative and office staffadministrative and office staff– constructionconstruction– security security – driversdrivers

How to find a jobHow to find a job

The EU/EEA citizens may look for a job:The EU/EEA citizens may look for a job:

-via the -via the Local Labour Office DirectoratesLocal Labour Office Directorates (register (register as job seekers)as job seekers)

-through the -through the NEA websiteNEA website www.az.government.bgwww.az.government.bg

-via -via private recruitment agenciesprivate recruitment agencies-through -through newspapersnewspapers (regional and national)(regional and national)

-through -through InternetInternet - -www.rabota.bgwww.rabota.bg www.jobs.bgwww.jobs.bg

www.jobtiger.bgwww.jobtiger.bg www.job.comwww.job.com

How to apply for a jobHow to apply for a job

Required documents Required documents ((in Bulgarianin Bulgarian))::

• CV – a standard European templateCV – a standard European template

• Letter of Letter of applicationapplication

• DiplomasDiplomas

• Documents proving vocational trainingDocuments proving vocational training

• Documents proving length of serviceDocuments proving length of service

Working in BulgariaWorking in Bulgaria

-- When applying for work, When applying for work, formal educationformal education is important.is important.

-- Recognition of foreign diplomas Recognition of foreign diplomasRegulated professions – NARIC www.nacid.bg www.nacid.bg

- Professionalism- Professionalism and and experienceexperience are are appreciated.appreciated.

Labour legislationLabour legislation

-- The official minimum age - The official minimum age - 16 years16 years

-- Working hours – full time, Working hours – full time, 8h per day /40h per week/8h per day /40h per week/

-- Lunch break – Lunch break – minmin 0.5h per day 0.5h per day

-- Labour contract; Labour contract; 6 months trial 6 months trial

-- Terminating a contract by giving a written notice Terminating a contract by giving a written notice /a notice period - 30 days//a notice period - 30 days/

-- Foreigners have to register in the National Revenue Foreigners have to register in the National Revenue Agency and get an Agency and get an identification number for identification number for foreignersforeigners..

Labour legislationLabour legislation

-- Annual leave Annual leave – – minimumminimum 20 20 working daysworking days

- - Illness leave Illness leave – – 80%80% of the average daily gross of the average daily gross remunerationremuneration

-- Maternity leave – Maternity leave – 410 days410 days - 90% of the average - 90% of the average daily remuneration; a paid leave until the child is 2 daily remuneration; a paid leave until the child is 2 years old (the sum received is fixed annually in the years old (the sum received is fixed annually in the State Budget). State Budget).

TaxationTaxation

• The The tax on incometax on income is is 10%10% from wages for labour. from wages for labour.

• The income tax - The income tax - monthly deducted from the salary and monthly deducted from the salary and paidpaid in the NRA in the NRA by the employerby the employer..

• Tax declarationTax declaration::- If the salary is the only source of an employee’s income - If the salary is the only source of an employee’s income – – no need to be filled inno need to be filled in- If there are other sources of income - - If there are other sources of income - should be filled inshould be filled in and submitted to the NRAand submitted to the NRA

• National Revenue AgencyNational Revenue Agency www.nap.bgwww.nap.bg

Social securitySocial security

•Social insurancesSocial insurances cover: cover:

pension insurancepension insurance general sickness and maternity insurancegeneral sickness and maternity insurance work injury and occupational sickness insurance (at work injury and occupational sickness insurance (at the expense of the employer) the expense of the employer) unemployment insuranceunemployment insurance

•National Social Security InstituteNational Social Security Institute - - www.noi.bgwww.noi.bg

Social securitySocial security

Social security contributions (in 2013):Social security contributions (in 2013): - For the persons born before 1 January 1960For the persons born before 1 January 1960

Labour category 3: 22.3% of gross salaryLabour category 3: 22.3% of gross salary (9.7% by the employee; 12.6% by the employer)(9.7% by the employee; 12.6% by the employer)

Labour categories 1 and 2: 25.3% Labour categories 1 and 2: 25.3% (9.7% by the employee; 15.6% by the employer)(9.7% by the employee; 15.6% by the employer)

- For the persons born after 1 January 1960For the persons born after 1 January 1960

Labour category 3: 17.3% of gross salaryLabour category 3: 17.3% of gross salary (7.5% by the employee; 9.8% by the employer)(7.5% by the employee; 9.8% by the employer)

Labour categories 1 and 2: 20.3%Labour categories 1 and 2: 20.3%(7.5% by the employee;12.8% by the employer)(7.5% by the employee;12.8% by the employer)

Social securitySocial security

Health contributions (in 2013):Health contributions (in 2013): 8% of gross salary8% of gross salary

•3,2% - by the employee 3,2% - by the employee •  4,8% - by the employer4,8% - by the employer

Maximum monthly income Maximum monthly income on which contributions are made: BGN 2200on which contributions are made: BGN 2200

National Revenue AgencyNational Revenue Agency www.nap.bgwww.nap.bgNational Health Insurance FundNational Health Insurance Fund www.nhif.bgwww.nhif.bg

Thank you! Welcome to Bulgaria!Thank you! Welcome to Bulgaria!

Аnelia Ninova, Uliana Nikolova EURES Advisers

A.Ninova@az.government.bg U.Nikolova@az.government.bg