Bulgaria - The social impact of seasonal migration

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Measures undertaken by the Bulgarian government for the regulation and control of
labour migration are basically the following:
a) Measures for regulating labour migration, involving a complex approach and
continuous application, directed at the perfection of the Bulgarian national legislation
and policies:
• Examination of existing migration legislations and cases of successful migration
management as a basis for the perfection of the national policies on migration;
• Active participation in the international co-operation for the control of labour
migration - for the implementation of international and European standards.
b) Measures regarding labour emigration – a premise for short-term, regulated labour
emigration:
• Continuous analysis of the work on the operative bilateral agreements for the
exchange of labour force, for any modifications in the relevant legislation and the
instructions included in the agreements to assist Bulgarian citizens;
• Intensification of the process of making bilateral agreements for the exchange of
labour force in other countries;
• Comprehensive information on the conditions under which Bulgarian citizens can
work abroad under operative agreements.
c) Measures regarding labour immigration – adopted to protect the labour market:
• Amendments in the legislation regarding the admittance of foreigners as employees
– a permit regime has been adopted since 1994;
• Adopting legislation for the admittance of foreigners as freelance individuals – a
separate permit regime is being introduced;
• At the same time – ensuring the equal treatment of those foreign migration-workers
that have been admitted to the Bulgarian market. In this area the criteria of EU
legislation and the requirements of other international organisations have been
covered.
Bulgaria is observing and adopting in its legislation the various requirements of the EU
regarding the citizens of member states and the citizens of third countries for workrelated
stay, for access to the labour market, for labour permission of the families of
workers who have already been admitted. Bulgaria is adhering strictly to the equal
treatment of those foreigners who have already been hired – regarding work conditions,
payment, holidays, dismissal, etc.
VI. In the field of integration policies a series of programmes have been
developed, oriented to the integration of returning highly qualified emigrants as
well as to preventing low-qualified emigration. This process should continue.
More efforts have to be put in developing programmes for better integration of immigrants
and refugees, including more programs for learning the Bulgarian language, more events
presenting the specific culture of immigrants, as well as more active monitoring of the
actual defence of their rights.