Bulgarian Businesses Foresee Jobs for 200,000 Ukrainians but Expect more Aid

Letter to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Finance, Labor, Energy and Economy Business declares that it is ready to hire Ukrainians with the appropriate qualifications to work, but also insists on extending energy subsidies. The letter was signed by the association uniting the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Industrial Capital Association and the Confederation of Employers. Businesses in all sectors have been suffering from a shortage of skilled workers for years.

Based on previous surveys, analyzes of the unemployment rate and labor market trends, taking into account the level of education and qualifications, we believe that the labor market could employ about 200 thousand Ukrainian citizens, employers write.

Businesses approve of the government's actions after the invasion of Ukraine and offer to be actively involved by hiring workers from Ukraine who have been accepted by the authorities here. However, they remind that currently, the legislation gives the right to only 3 months of work to people who are in the process of granting international protection after submitting the application for protection under Art. 29 (3) of the Asylum and Refugees Act.

Therefore, the employers propose that the Bulgarian government develop a targeted program aimed at reducing the timeframe for obtaining refugee/humanitarian status for Ukrainian citizens, which will operate for a limited period, allowing normal living and working conditions for Ukrainian citizens.

Such a program can also support employers providing employment by taking part of the subsistence funds for a certain period, and the creation of a database of occupations and skills will allow them to more easily integrate into the labor market, the...