Shorter deadlines for issuing work visas, digitalization of the single permit for residence and work, a larger quota for foreigners who can work for one company, are part of the proposed measures for a more favorable regime for hiring staff from third countries. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov during a discussion on “Access to the labor market for workers from third countries – challenges and solutions.” The Deputy Prime Minister presented the activities of the interdepartmental working group on hiring workers from abroad.
“The problem with hiring labor was one of the first that the government faced. This was always a cry for help from the industry and it was heard,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. He announced that by the end of the month the measures will be formalized in a document, which will be discussed with representatives of the trade unions and the expectations are that it will be adopted by the end of June.
Grozdan Karadzhov pointed out that the measures fall into two categories: administrative and legislative. The organizational ones aim to facilitate the slow administrative process through which the procedures pass. “There was an agreement to hire more employees in the consular offices in countries that can provide foreign workers to Bulgaria, and intergovernmental agreements will also be accelerated with countries with which there are no signed documents at the moment. We plan for the digitalization of the single residence and work permit, without which effective control cannot be ensured,” specified the Deputy Prime Minister.
The discussion was organized by the National Tourism Board and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce. Representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, as well as of branch organizations, participated.
