site.btaNumber of Third-Country Workers in Bulgaria Could Exceed 50,000 by Year-End, Says Labour Minister

The number of workers from third countries in Bulgaria could exceed 50,000 by the end of this year, said Minister of Labour and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov during a visit to Burgas on Tuesday for the start of intensified inspections along the Black Sea coast aimed at enforcing labour laws. 

According to him, more foreign workers entered Bulgaria in the first three months of 2025 than during the entire year of 2024.

"Whether all of them stay here or use Bulgaria as a springboard to other countries is still not entirely clear," Gutsanov commented.

"A working group has been formed, involving several ministers. The goal is to identify what the problems are," said the Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

A key focus of the inspections will be the employment contracts of seasonal workers at seaside resorts.

"With the start of the summer season, enhanced inspections are necessary. A successful tourist season is an important goal for the entire Black Sea region, but that does not mean there should be violations. Nearly 25% of Bulgaria’s economy operates in the shadows. The government has initiated actions to bring more transparency to the economy, ensuring funds for the state budget and the pension system," Gutsanov noted. He emphasized that more than 20,000 inspections have been carried out since the beginning of the year, with around 1,300 cases of people employed without contracts discovered. In total, nearly 75,000 violations have been detected, he said.

Regarding individuals under the age of 18 who want to work, Gutsanov commented that "employers must also comply with the law." He added, "We have issued 3,100 work permits in this regard." 

Even before the active tourist season began, the Labor Inspectorate in Burgas started inspections along the entire southern Black Sea coast. Teams of inspectors are checking whether workers are hired with proper labor contracts and whether labor regulations for underage employees are being followed. In one of the inspected establishments, which was visited in the presence of the minister, workers from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were found. They told BTA that they had signed contracts and were satisfied with the pay in Bulgaria.