Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

“A home far from home”

Beyond the myths about refugees

Photo: CATRO Bulgaria

What do refugees expect and how can we help them integrate? Where can the corporate needs of businesses intersect with the interests of refugees so that we can give them the support they need to lead economically independent lives –these are the questions we are focusing on in this edition of “A home far from home”, in which we present the stories of the people who have chosen to seek protection in Bulgaria.

CATRO Bulgaria, a leading Austrian consultancy group in human resources management and development, conducted a survey on refugee employment in this country and the measures that would help more refugees find their place on the labour market. The survey was conducted among 14 key stakeholders and 15 employers from across the country. Many of the companies operate in the processing industry, 13 percent say they have previous experience with employees who are refugees, and 87 percent say they have never hired refugees.

The survey indicates that the reasons why employers are avoiding hiring refugees is poor command of the Bulgarian language, uncertainty as to the duration of employment, lack of documents certifying level of education and qualification, additional legal and administrative requirements, as well as cultural differences and prejudice.

They do not expect us to give them a job without any effort on their part, or a home, what they do expect is that we provide the conditions in which they can unfold their potential. That is the first myth the CATRO survey shatters. The experience of the HR specialists shows that refugees are not people who do not want to work, or who expect anything to be served to them on a platter. They are people coming here with lower levels of educational attainment, but that does not mean they do not want to obtain an education or to develop. 50 percent of the refugees in Bulgaria have a primary and lower secondary education, 14 percent – a secondary education, very few have a university degree.

There were 241 refugees registered at the Caritas, Sofia career centre last year. People who are determined to find a job through mediation.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Boryana Murgina: Bulgarian children in Sunday schools abroad also need the help of speech therapists

People are part of a society and it would be difficult to live without communication. Therefore, caring for a good communication with other people begins at an early age, when we learn to speak. Everything starts in the family but the..

published on 3/28/24 4:36 PM

At Sofia Airport before Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen by air and sea

On March 31, Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen area by air and sea. Austria remains the last stumbling block stopping the two countries in their pursuit of full membership in the European area of free movement without border controls at internal..

published on 3/28/24 1:58 PM

Conference on cardiovascular health in the EU to be held in Sofia

The European Commission Representation in Sofia will today host a conference on "Cardiovascular Health in Europe: Challenges and Prospects".  The event will be attended by the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariya..

published on 3/28/24 7:25 AM