APPENDIX 2
Memorandum submitted by the Social and
Labour Affairs Office, Embassy of Bulgaria, London
The policy on labor migration is set apart as
an independent priority policy. By an order of the Minister of
Labor and Social Policy in 2005 Interdepartmental working group
is created on migration and integration of immigrants which serves
as a wide forum for discussion of the policy in this area. In
it take part representatives of all ministries and other departments
which have a relation to the problems of migration and integration
of immigrants, representatives of the local power—National
Association of the Municipalities, as well as social partners.
Separately, working group is created on free movement of persons
in the framework of which all problems relate to the policy of
Bulgaria regarding the access of citizens of European Union to
the labor market and free movement of workers, coordination of
social security schemes and the citizens' rights are discussed.
In 2007 by an order of the Prime Minister of
the Republic of Bulgaria Interdepartmental working group on the
problems of the migration policy is created. This working group
is on the level of deputy ministers. In it take part also social
partners. The task set for the working group is to actualize the
migration policy of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Another important step which Bulgaria undertook
in the policy on labor migration is the preparation of National
strategy on migration and integration of immigrants which is expected
to be accepted by the Council of Ministers up to the middle of
2008.
In the frames of the above indicated working
groups the formulation and application of this policy are set
for a debate on different levels and at the same time decisions
are taken after arriving at a consensus. The result of such a
discussion was the decision taken in December 2006 by the Council
of Ministers for application of the Community Law in this area,
ie opening of the labor market of Bulgaria. This means that the
Republic of Bulgaria applies entirely Regulation 1612/68. By this
act Bulgaria expressed on union level its responsible position
regarding free movement of workers between all member countries
in order that EU can meet the challenges in the area of migration
in a global scheme.
From the other side Bulgaria has set to itself
a goal that every year it will make a study of the Bulgarian citizens'
disposition to travel abroad and in particular, in another member
states. This statistics is a necessary basis, together with the
needs of the Bulgarian labor market, for the every year reformulation
of the policy in the area of the labor migration.
In this connection in June 2007 was made an
Empirical Sociological Survey by ASSA-M. According to the comparison
data, the total amount of the potential external migration for
the period June 2003—June 2007 contracts.
The fear and some fearful prognoses, that after
the accession of Bulgaria to the EU the stream of emigrants will
increase sharply, are not justified. The general tendencies are
clearly outlined by the data at the comparison between 2003 and
2007. The contingent is oriented most of all toward Spain and
Portugal. The interest toward Greece, Italy and France has relatively
increased as well.
Spain is the most desired destination among
Bulgarian active emigrants (21%). The most desired EU country
is Spain with 18%, while 12% of the people want to settle permanently
in Britain. Only 5% of these 12% has the possibility to settle
permanently in Great Britain.
Neither quantitatively in the form of emigration
stream, nor qualitatively as a structure, is the Bulgarian emigration
dangerous for the countries of the EU. According to the conclusion
of the survey of ASSA-M Bulgarian emigration is not dangerous
for Europe, actually it is dangerous for Bulgaria itself.
In this connection Bulgaria endeavours to reduce
the factors for emigration. The establishment of the Labor and
Social Affairs Service at the Embassy of Republic of Bulgaria
in London in the end of January 2007 aims at assisting for successful
implementation of Bulgarian policy in the sphere of management
of the labor migration and the protection of the Bulgarian citizens'
interests in this field in United Kingdom. The Service activity
is closely bound with the search of satisfying solution for both
sides of the problem about opening of the labor market in United
Kingdom for Bulgarian workers. The efforts of the Service's head
are directed to the faster reconsidering of the transitional measures
for access to the labor market imposed for Bulgarian workers from
the United Kingdom. The popularization of the policy of the Ministry
of Labor and Social Policy for termination of the transitional
period is one of the main goals of the Service.
By the representative of the Ministry of Labor
and Social Policy the Bulgarian citizens in United Kingdom have
the possibility to obtain information and support on problems
regarding the practicing of their legal employment.
An important component in the Service activity
is also the consultation and giving information about the Bulgarian
legislation in the field of employment and social policy to citizens
and companies in United Kingdom regarding practicing employment
in Republic of Bulgaria.
Regular contacts with the Representative of
the European Commission in London who is responsible for the labor
and social issues as well as with the labor attaches of other
diplomatic representations (Germany, Romania, Spain etc.) are
kept.
Under the initiative of the press center of
Home Office information about Bulgarian citizens who have successfully
achieved realization and integration in Great Britain was presented
from the Service. The goal was to find positive examples about
Bulgarian emigration.
In Bulgaria was undertaken concrete steps of
active policy and the results are already a fact. During the first
six months of 2007 the implementation of a purposeful policy with
the main goal to the integration of the groups in risk on the
labour market, raising their employability and facilitating their
access to the labour market has been continued. The economic activity
rate of the population between 15 and 64 is rising from 60.7%
in 2000 up to 64.9% for the first quarter of 2007. During the
last years a firm trend of growth of the number of employed people
is observed. For the first three months the number of employed
people aged 15-64 is 3,099.2 thousands (employment rate 59.7%).
A stable trend of a decrease in the registered
unemployment is observed. The undergoing active programs, measures
as well as professional qualification and effective labour mediation
at the primary labour market also contribute to the unemployment
decrease in the country in 2007. The annual average unemployment
rate for 2006 is among the lowest levels since September 1991.
Just for a year the number of unemployed have dropped with 68,327
people. The level of unemployment in Bulgaria began to be in a
range that is comparable to the EU countries and is stably keeping
its position ahead of Poland, Slovak Rep., France, Germany and
other member states. In 2007 the level of unemployment in Bulgaria
is getting closer and closer to the average rates in EU (June
2007—6.9 %). At the end of June 2007 the unemployment drop
compared to June 2006 is 19.2%. In July 2007 the unemployment
rate is 7.25%. The unemployment for August, according to the preliminary
data, drops to 7.06%, said on a press-conference at the Ministry
of Labour and Social Policy Deputy Minister Dimitar Dimitrov.
With the aim to effectively support integration
of the unemployed people at the labour market and creation of
new workplaces in 2007 under different programs and measures,
funded by the budget for active labour market policy, employment
to 78 thousands unemployed people has been provided and 21 thousands
have been included in trainings.
The workforce demands are growing. Only for
the first half of 2007 155,579 free workplaces were submitted
to the Employment Agency. The taken workplaces are 146,928. Labour
mediators have arranged job for 138,936 people and 66,312 of them
are in the private sector.
With the fulfilment of the measures and programs
under the Employment Encouragement Law a decrease of the regional
diversity in employment is aimed. The funds are shared out according
to Criteria for Allocation of National Programs and Measures for
Training and Employment Encouragement under Employment Encouragement
Law to Regions. The criteria are: unemployment rate, relative
share of the target group to the common number of unemployed and
declared needs. The regional approach in applied to the whole
active labour market policy.
For the reduction of the regional diversity
the activity of the regional labour market partners to develop
and implement regional employment initiatives (Art. 31 of Employment
Encouragement Law) is stimulated, thus increasing the employment
rate and encouraging the development of some regions with the
view of overcoming the regional diversity in the country. In fulfilment
of the National Employment Action Plan from the beginning of this
year Ministry of Labor and Social Policy has approved 14 new programs,
nine of which regional.
The employment policy is targeted to increase
the employability and to promote the activeness on the labor market
of the disadvantaged groups of unemployed: young people, persons
with low education and qualification, long-term unemployed, Roma
people, people with disabilities, persons over 50 years of age.
The realization of the programs and measures creates workplaces
for permanent employment, for practicing and apprenticeship. During
2007 the programs and measures for providing of greater flexibility
of the labor market will become more varied.
Active measures on the labor market are successfully
applied:
— National Program "From social
aid to employment";
— National Program "Assistants
of disabled persons";
— National Program "Aid for retirement";
— National Program "Start in the
career".
In the frames of the project JOBS for a net
of business centers policy for promotion the development of business
in distant rural regions is carried out.
Under the project of "Beautiful Bulgaria"
of Ministry of Labor and Social Policy education for professional
qualification of long term unemployed persons is conceded and
an employment in the field of construction and tourism is ensured.
In the field of employment on European level
unusual dynamic processes are developing which reflect directly
on the necessity for reforming of the national market of labor
and are aiming at achievement of much closer binding of macroeconomic
and microeconomic policy and the policy of employment in the framework
of the Lisbon strategy. Regarding this I will inform you about
some of the basic achievements and about what we plan concerning
the development of employment policy in Bulgaria.
The situation of the labor market is changing
for the better every new month as a result of the purposeful and
consecutive social-economical policy of the Government. According
to the data of National statistical institute during 2006 the
overall number of the persons employed in Bulgaria has reached
3.1 million and only for one year their number has increased with
130,000. This positive tendency continues also during 2007. The
coefficient of the employed has increased. The registered unemployment
steadily decreases. The active programs, measures and professional
qualification as well as the efficient labor intermediation of
the primary labor market have contributed for the decreasing of
the unemployment in the country. The data for June 2007 shows
a record low level of registered unemployment. The unemployment
rate has decreased with 5.7 points compared to the beginning of
the 2005.
The success is due to not only the steady economic
development but also to the considerably improved planning and
fulfillment of the national policy on employment and in the same
time on the efforts for implementation of the Lisbon strategy
in its part "Employment".
With the help of the National Action Plan for
employment during 2007 Bulgaria will ensure subsidiary employment
of over 87,000 persons and education of over 43,000 persons. The
accent is on the enhancement of the adaptation for high efficient
and high quality employment of the labor force by larger investments
in the human capital and life long learning; accelerated integration
of the disadvantaged groups by activating for search and staying
at work and enhancement of the flexibility of the labor market.
Providing workers with appropriate qualification
for the needs of the Bulgarian economy in the context of the integration
in the Common market is gaining greater and greater importance.
That is why we undertake a number of actions in order to bind
the education with the concrete necessities of the employers,
to enhance its quality and to ensure higher knowledge and skills
for Bulgarian citizens. The acquirement of key skills as the enhancement
of the participation of the population in the different forms
of the life long learning will be priority of the Strategy for
Life Long Learning which is being developed at the moment.
In the context of the exclusively active debate
on European level regarding the necessity of achieving new balance
between flexibility and security these topics are also discussed
in Bulgaria. The better balance between flexibility and security
helps more people to start working or to stay on the labor market.
That is why in cooperation with the social partners Ministry of
Labor and Social Policy elaborate changes in the legislation.
For the fulfillment of the objectives of Lisbon in the field of
employment and in respect with the Integrated Guidelines for Growth
and Employment Bulgaria has developed National Program for Reforms
in the period 2006-09. In the frames of the National Strategic
Referent Framework the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy has
been determined as a management body of the National Operative
Program for Development of Human Resources. Among all operative
programs developed from Bulgarian side and presented in the European
Commission that one is in the most advanced stage of approval.
In the period of 2007-13 a resource of 1.2 billion EUR will be
invested. In this way our state will obtain support for achieving
better living standard for the people in Bulgaria by improving
human capital, increasing of productivity, access to education
of good quality and life long learning, strengthening of social
inclusion, and of course achieving high levels of employment.
15 November 2007
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