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

2. Bulgaria

3. 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

4. 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:
/Bulgarian Ministry of Interior/.

5. Accommodation How to find accomodation?
National and regional daily newspapers
Real Estate Agencies
Internet
The rent of a small apartment per month:
from € € 800 in Sofia
from € € 300 in small towns.
Rental contracts /deposit for rent is common/

6. Living conditions Cost of living BGN EUR
Bread 750 g – 110 lv 0.46
Milk 1l lv
Butter 250 g lv
Cheese 1 kg ` – 6.13
Beef 1 kg
Flour 1 kg
Beer
Cola 1.5 l
Coffee 250 g
Bus ticket – – 0.51
Petrol 1l

7. Health system A personal medical specialist - GP.
Medical professionals and medical institutions that have sighed contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund.
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

8. 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. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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/

13. 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

14. How to find job in Bulgaria
Registration in Local Labor Offices Directorates.
NEA Job vacancy data bank in the Internet:
Newspapers regional + national
Private agencies
Internet pages

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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 %

18. 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

19. Thank you for your attention!
Thank you for your attention!