Sofia Hosts Forum on Access to Labour Market for Workers from Third Countries

Yoana Vodenicharova

A snapshot of the forum addressing the challenges and potential solutions related to labor market access for workers from third countries, Sofia, May 20, 2025 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)

Sofia,

20.05.2025 22:15

(BTA)

A forum addressing the challenges and potential solutions related to labor market access for workers from third countries was held at NV Tower in Sofia on Tuesday morning. The event was organized by the National Board of Tourism and the Bulgarian Industrial Association, with support from the Ministry of Tourism.

Attendees included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov, Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh, Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev, parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Policy Chairperson Denitsa Sacheva, Deputy Foreign Minister Maria Anguelieva, Deputy Interior Minister Toni Todorov, and Economic and Social Council President Zornitsa Rusinova, among others. Representatives from the State Agency for National Security and the Ministry of e-Government were also present.

Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov said that one of the government's biggest challenges is the difficulty businesses face in finding workers. He noted that over the last decade a major labor shortage to develop. Karadjov added that "the more developed a country becomes, the more difficult it is to find workers and employees, especially for more labour-intensive professions." He described the current situation as a "cry for help" from industry and the economy, warning that Bulgaria is losing its already fragile competitive edge due to a lack of workforce. He stressed that the government is currently focused on taking all possible measures to boost this country’s competitiveness.

Committee on Labour and Social Policy Chairperson Denitsa Sacheva called for inter-institutional coordination and a change in the working model of the institutions and their hiring of more employees. She presented current information on actions taken by the legislative body to ease the procedures for access of citizens from third countries to the labour market in Bulgaria. Sacheva listed changes being made to alleviate the situation: a problem with the directive on the conditions for entry and stay of citizens for the purpose of seasonal employment has been removed; amendments are being made to both the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act and the Act on the Entering, Residing and Leaving the Republic of Bulgaria by EU Citizens and Their Family Members; the residence of foreign postgraduates is being regulated; changes arising from Bulgaria's membership in Schengen are being introduced; interaction between institutions is being improved regarding permits for long-term residence of seasonal workers; a change is being made to the Tourism Act and a legal opportunity is being created for the Ministry of Interior to access data on all tourists in places of accommodation in the country; the deadline for the State Agency for National Security to send a statement to the Migration Directorate is being reduced, etc.

E-Government Minister Valentin Mundrov presented new opportunities for businesses following recent amendments to the Foreigners in Bulgaria Act. These changes support the implementation of a digital platform for issuing work permits. Mundrov said that the goal is to integrate the work of several institutions into the platform. He expressed hope that with the changes in place, all documents and permits will be processed exclusively through this system. The Minister added that the platform has been operational since the end of October and is already in use by the Employment Agency.

/RY/