Bulgaria - The social impact of seasonal migration

Measures undertaken by the Bulgarian government for the regulation and control of
labour migration are basically the following:
a) Measures for regulating labour immigration, 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 organizations 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
work-related 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.
The next steps have to be oriented more towards strengthening the administrative
structure, as well as towards investing in education, training and the necessary human
and technical resources for controlling and professionally regulating the migration
processes.
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