Factors of production

The total number of people registered with the Manpower Organization (OAED) as unemployed came to 973,586, according to OAED data released on Monday.
From the people who are looking for a job, 63,57% are women and 53,15% are registered with OAED for more than 12 months.

The National Revenue Agency has started inspections of 1,900 employers in Sofia a significant number of whose employees receive the minimum monthly wage.

BELGRADE - Minister of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy Aleksandar Vulin said on Monday that last year saw a drop in Serbia's unemployment rate from 23 to 17.6 percent, and the government will strive to keep it at the same level and reduce it, if possible, primarily through youth employment schemes.

The council of state has asked the government to clarify the reasons for suspending a strike by steel workers, questioning the nature of the "national security" concerns behind the cabinet decision.

The average monthly wage in Bulgaria in the last quarter of 2014 was BGN 847, which represents an increase of 4.7 % compared to the previous quarter.

This is revealed from the latest data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI), which was released on Thursday.

The government has suspended an ongoing strike in Turkey?s metal sector, citing national security.

?The strike by Birle?ik Metal-?? in the workplaces listed has been considered to be damaging national security and hence has been delayed for 60 days,? read a cabinet decision published in the Official Gazette on Jan. 30.

The Turkish government plans to boost employment specifically for women by making the working conditions better and reducing the informal economy with the new reform package. 

Labor reforms targeted at reducing the informal economy and boosting employment, especially of women, were announced by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu yesterday. 

By Dimitra Manifava

The winter sales started on Monday across the country and will continue through February 28, but retailers have very limited expectations as forecasts are pointing to a 5 to 8 percent drop in turnover from the same time last year.

This follows an 8-10 percent decline in December turnover.

By Dimitra Manifava

Retail sales volume posted a significant rise in October 2014 compared with the same month in 2013, while the constant decline in prices meant there was only marginal growth in turnover, according to data released on Wednesday by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

Hidroelectrica recorded, after the first 11 months of 2014, a record profit of 1.073 billion lei, up by 28% from the same period of last year, when the company posted a profit of 841 million lei, a company's release informs on Monday.