From 2012, Bulgarians will enjoy greater opportunities for work abroad following the decision of the German government for certain concessions at its labor market. Under the new arrangement, in cases of shortage of workers and no local candidates to fill in the openings, German employers will be free to hire Bulgarians. For the time being ten EU countries have kept restrictions on the access of Bulgarians to their labor markets: Italy, Holland, France, UK, Ireland, Malta, Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium and in part, Germany. Within the transitional 7-year period all EU members should open fully their markets to citizens of Bulgaria. More on the issue from Vladimir Kalchev, head of department Free Movement of Workers, Migration and Integration and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy:
“Easing access to Germany’s labor market does not mean that they have stopped performing the transition period. They have introduced some alleviations for access to the market of both Bulgarians and Romanians, but only for certain groups of workers. Unlike 16 other countries who have lifted all restrictions, Germany has submitted its arguments to the European Commission highlighting two key factors. In the first place this is the current stagnation and rising unemployment in the context of a small annual GDP growth, at roughly 1 percent. On the other hand, they have pointed to the trend of the development of economy in the near future. In the meantime, however, by calculating the added value that employment of Bulgarian workers brings to their economy, the Germans have decided to ease access to the market of certain categories, such as people with university education. Besides the German market is open to workers who begin professional training in Germany.”
Vladimir Kalchev also points to some other options of working abroad. For example, if a Bulgarian worker is hired by a foreign employer, a work permit is needed and it is required by the local employer. When however the Bulgarian citizen or a Bulgarian company operates in the territory of the said country for the delivery of a service such as construction works, then a work permit is not required. In sectors such as construction, cleaning and indoor decoration, a work permit is required in Germany and Austria alone. Bulgarian citizens can work in UK, for instance, as self-employed persons – they find themselves a job and deliver services.
The new opportunities for employment of Bulgarians abroad have impacted negatively on the Bulgarian labor market. There is a drain of highly qualified hands from the country, and there is a shortage of staff locally. Here is Vladimir Kalchev with more:
“If you follow the developments on the labor market, you will come across an interesting fact. In a bid to keep qualified staff Bulgarian employers offer very good remuneration. Remuneration paid in Bulgaria to IT specialists and financiers for example, is comparable to what they would earn abroad. Citizens of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and UK are hired in such positions in Bulgaria. They work here and get adequately paid. This coupled with the challenge of a new and specific market, is enough to motivate them”, concludes Vladimir Kalchev, head of department Free Movement of Workers, Migration and Integration and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
Translated by Daniela Konstantinova
