Non-EU workers to be allowed to register as unemployed under new rules

Non-EU workers in Bulgaria holding a Single Permit for Residence and Work will be able to register as unemployed if their employment is terminated, under amendments approved by Parliament at first reading.

To qualify, they must have worked for the same employer for at least six months. They will be able to register earlier if the employer is found to have violated labour law, BNR reporter Daniel Inkov said. The amendments to the Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria Act, tabled by the Council of Ministers, also regulate access to healthcare for third-country nationals undergoing screening.

According to the government, the changes are intended to facilitate legal labour migration and reduce the risk of labour exploitation.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova