site.btaLabour Minister: Labour Inspectorate Repeatedly Denied Access to Illegal Buildings near Varna

The General Labour Inspectorate Executive Agency has made repeated attempts to enter and inspect the illegal buildings in the Baba Alino area near Varna, but its teams were repeatedly prevented from carrying out inspections, Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efremova said on Nova TV on Sunday.

Efremova noted that the Inspectorate has documentation confirming that its inspectors were denied access on multiple occasions. Numerous penalties have also been imposed for the absence of employment contracts, indicating that the case is multifaceted, she added.

The minister pointed out that construction sites are subject to frequent inspections because they are considered high-risk. She stressed that the government's intention is to fully clarify the case.

Asked whether the buildings near Varna could be converted into care homes for the elderly, children's facilities or family-type accommodation services, Efremova said the structures would first need to meet specific architectural requirements. If they are found suitable for social services, that would be an excellent idea that she would strongly support, she added.

Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Shishkov told BNT that a comprehensive review of documentation related to the site in Varna from 2023 onwards was ordered on Friday following the case of the so-called illegal town. The results of the inspection are expected within two weeks.