LIVING & WORKING CONDITIONS Malinka Todorova -EURES adviser BULGARIA LIVING & WORKING CONDITIONS Malinka Todorova -EURES adviser 11 October 2008 г.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria Summary Area 110 994 sq. km Inhabitants 7 974 000 Capital Sofia Official language Bulgarian Government type Parliamentary republic Religion Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish 0.1%, National currency Bulgarian lev (BGN) A rate of exchange: Euro 1/ 1.95 BGN

Entering Bulgaria EU/EEA citizens may enter Bulgaria and reside there up to 3 months only with their ID card/passport. Over 3 month: You are to submit an application for a long-term Residence Permit /valid up to 5 years/ at the Regional Police Office After 5-years period you may acquire a permanent Residence permit. Additional informations: http://www.mvr.bg /Bulgarian Ministry of Interior/.

Accommodation How to find accomodation? National and regional daily newspapers Real Estate Agencies Internet www.imot.bg/ www.accommodation-bg.com www.naemibg.com/ The rent of a small apartment per month: from € 200 - € 800 in Sofia from € 120 - € 300 in small towns. Rental contracts /deposit for rent is common/

Living conditions Cost of living BGN EUR Bread 750 g 0.90 – 110 lv 0.46 Milk 1l 1.60 -1.90 lv 0.82 - 0.97 Butter 250 g 1.20 lv 0.61 Cheese 1 kg 9.00-12.00` 4.60 – 6.13 Beef 1 kg 12.00 6.13 Flour 1 kg 1.20 0.61 Beer 0.33 1.20 0.61 Cola 1.5 l 1.90 0.97 Coffee 250 g 2.50 1.28 Bus ticket 0.80 – 1.00 0.40 – 0.51 Petrol 1l 2.30 1.18

Health system A personal medical specialist - GP. Medical professionals and medical institutions that have sighed contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund. www.nhif.bg A visit tax - 1% of the minimum salary. /E 1.12/ A bed tax in a hospital - 2% of the minimal salary for each day Private hospitals

Child care and Education Kindergartens; Crèches Education - obligatory for children from 7 to 16 years old The state school education is free for: Bulgarian citizens; Permanent residents of Bulgaria EU/EEA and Switzerland citizens who work in Bulgaria. The education system in Bulgaria includes: - basic education - from 1st to 8th grade - secondary education from 8th to 12th grade - higher education.

9 Regional Line managers STRUCTURE OF EURES - BULGARIA МANAGER 9 Regional Line managers 3 assistants /central office/ financial expert Communications expert IT - expert EURES Coordinator 7 EURES Advisers 28 EURES assistants in the Local Labor Offices in 28 districts

Labour market 28 administrative districts Average unemployment rate 6.68% Dobritch 7.79% Varna 4.60% Silistra 10.51% Turgovishte 14.64% Gabrovo 3.72% Russe 6.10% Veliko Tarnovo 7.22% Lovetch 8.43% Pleven 8.53% Burgas 3.48% Yambol 8.48% Sliven 8.60% Plovdiv 5.48% Pazardjik 9.23% Kardjali 9.01% Haskovo 7.42% Smolian 11.43% Stara Zagora 5.65% Pernik 5.39% Kustendil 7.61% Blagoevgrad 6.59% Sofia district 7.81% 1.43% Vratza 10.98% Montana 12.33% Vidin 11.30% The first half year of 2008 Razgrad 11.66% Shoumen 12.07% 28 administrative districts

Average salary in branches - BGN/Euro Minimum salary 220 leva / E112 per month Average salary 510 leva / E 260

Labour market surpluses 1. Specialists in the field of economics, law, social sciences, education, agriculture 2. Specialists in services, transportation, security and life guard, health care 3. People with qualification in the field of engineering and technology /the data are on the base of the registered in the NEA unemployed people/

Labour market shortages Construction workers – all kinds  Staff in tourism branch– waiters,  bartenders, cooks, chefs, chambermaids, receptionists Tailors Machine building workers Metallurgy workers Technicians, welders, electricians Engineers Nurses

How to find job in Bulgaria Registration in Local Labor Offices Directorates. NEA Job vacancy data bank in the Internet: www.az.government.bg Newspapers regional + national Private agencies Internet pages www.job.com http://jobs.gbg.bg, www.jobtiger.bg

How to apply for job Required documents Curriculum vitae –the standard European template Letter of application Diplomas /translated into Bulgarian/ Documents proving vocational training Documents proving length of service

Labour legislation The official minimum age - 16 years. Working hours – 8 h per day /40 h per week/ Labour contract is obligatory. Terminating the contract by giving a notice in writing /notice period - 30 days/. Annual leave– minimum 20 working days Illness leave– 80% of the average daily gross wage

Social security You have to register in the National Revenue Agency and get an identify number of foreigner Social insurance includes: pension insurance general sickness and maternity insurance work injury and occupational sickness insurance unemployment insurance health insurance The ratio between the employer’s and employee’s social insurance rates is 60% to 40 %

Taxation The tax on income is 10%. There is no non taxable income. The tax on the income from salary payment is monthly deducted and paid by the employer. Tax declaration - If the salary is the only source of an employee’s income, there is no need a tax declaration to be filled in. - If there are other sources of income, a tax declaration should be filled in and rendered to the NRA. For more information www.nap.bg/

Thank you for your attention! http://az.government.bg Thank you for your attention! http://europa.eures.eu