site.btaBulgarian and Slovak Labour Inspectors Carry Out Joint Checks in Sofia

Bulgarian and Slovak labour inspectors carried out joint checks in Sofia to see whether employers complied with labour law, the General Labour Inspectorate said on Monday.

The teams conducted inspections at construction sites and in the hospitality and catering sectors, focusing on declared employment, working hours, pay, and health and safety conditions.

The joint initiative was organized by the European Labour Authority as part of an Action Week focused on tackling undeclared work. Inspectors distributed brochures titled Declared Work Benefits Everyone, which explain what declared work is, outline employers’ obligations, and provide a checklist to help determine whether work is declared.

During the checks, Slovak inspectors found it particularly useful that employers are required to keep on-site copies of documents related to working hours, a practice that makes it easier to identify employees and monitor their working time.

In 2026, labour inspectors will continue to play an active role in international initiatives aimed at exchanging experience and information with labour inspectorates in the European Union and the region, as well as with international organizations and institutions, the General Labour Inspectorate said.

In 2025, almost half of all inspections carried out by the General Labour Inspectorate’s control bodies focused on curbing undeclared work, the agency said. Labour inspectors conducted 21,969 inspections under a special measure aimed at preventing undeclared employment. This represented 44% of the total 49,660 inspections, the agency added.