Law changes can allow businesses to hire more foreigners from non-EU countries

Quotas for third-country personnel are being increased by 5%. This is provided for in a draft amendment to the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act, published for public discussion. A requirement is introduced that foreigners employed by Bulgarian employers should not exceed 25% of the staff in the respective company, and for small and medium-sized enterprises the quota is 40 percent. So far, the restrictions were up to 20 and 35%. The aim is to ease access to the labor market for citizens of non-EU countries in response to the increasing demand for personnel. The draft prohibits employers from hiring third-country nationals who are illegally residing in the country and regulates the sanctions for employers who hire foreigners in violation of the regime.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov