Paid transfers of workers, reduction of motherhood period, electronic employment records and dismissals allowed by email. These are part of measures to reduce administrative burdens that the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) proposed to Deputy PM Daniela Bobeva. Businesses want the paper record of service and files of workers to be replaced by electronic forms and some of the data in them to be filled automatically by the National Revenue Agency and the Social Securrity Insurance Institute. Access could be gained through a personal code via the website of the General Labour Inspectorate or the Employment Agency.
Another controversial proposal is to electronically notify the employees that will be laid off and the company to be able to terminate the employment contract without the consent of the employee, if it increases the compensation due. Employers also insist that the requirement for them to seek permission from the Labour Inspectorate be abolished for disciplinary dismissal, the termination of the contract in the absence of qualities and the closure of a business or part of its operations. Representatives of the BIA wanted elimination of seniority bonuses and options enabling them to terminate employment contracts of workers in retirement age. They also quoted as an administrative burden the requirement to pay for the first three days of a sick leave of their subordinates.
A good idea, according to the Chamber of Commerce, is like it is in the sports, to introduce paid intercompany transfers of qualified personnel. The „sales“ or the „rent“ will become possible against certain compensation. Reducing the age at recruitment of juveniles from the current 16 to 15 years is needed to facilitate the introduction of the dual education system and so early school-leavers will be able to start working.
Among the proposals is an extension from three to seven days of the period in which employers are required to notify the tax authorities for a conclusion, amendment or termination of contracts, as well as the extending of the maximum duration of fixed-term contracts. Another wish is an increase from three to six months of the period for contracting part-time jobs due to economic reasons as well as a review of the right to 20 days paid annual leave during maternity leave. The Chamber is of the opinion that it is necessary to shorten the duration of motherhood at the expense of increasing the amount of benefits, since a prolonged leave is deskilling large proportion of the mothers and excludes them from the labour market. Employers raise the issue of dropping out the rates for length of service and experience on the grounds that the remuneration should be in line with performance and results of staff. They insist on the introduction of specialized courts for dealing with labour disputes and procedures for voluntary settlements as is the European practice.
The BANKER
