site.btaLabour Minister Warns of Gaps in Water Attractions Oversight

Minister of Labour Borislav Gutsanov told reporters here on Friday that it turned out that there is a gap in the oversight of water attractions. He added that safety is not within the competencies of his Ministry, referring to the recent accident in Nessebar where an eight-year-old child fell from a significant height while parasailing and died.

Gutsanov said: “It is difficult for me to even determine whom should be addressed with the issue of safety – whether the Maritime Administration or someone else.” He added: “But as a person who graduated from a naval academy and has practiced sailing, I believe that such facilities should be inspected annually.” He commented that sun and seawater cause the facilities to age quickly. The Minister was adamant that regular inspections of water attraction are needed, as “the sea should not be taken lightly.”

The Minister and representatives of the Labour Inspectorate in Burgas visited Sunny Beach to participate in an inspection on compliance with labour legislation in the tourism sector.

The Inspectorate’s director, Pavlin Vaskov, noted that this institution has no legal grounds to control the technical condition of water attractions at the seaside. He specified that the Labour Inspectorate has no authority to oversee the condition of the parachutes used for parasailing.