Near 15,000 unemployed persons will start working as provided in the National Action Plan for Employment in 2021, and 11,599 persons will be included in training courses under programs and measures in order to become more competitive on the labour market. The document was approved at today's government meeting.

The planned number of subsidised jobs will increase by 12.2% compared to 2020. Funds are also provided for training courses in key competencies for 1,000 employees in medium, small and micro enterprises. The financing of the activities set will be within the approved funds from the state budget for active labour market policy – 83 million BGN. As a result of the implementation of the set actions, programs, projects and measures in 2021, the unemployment rate is expected to be 5.2%.

The salaries of those included in subsidised employment will be in line with the minimum wage, which is 650 BGN for full-time employment since the beginning of 2021. The subsidy of the funds for remuneration has increased – from 500 BGN to 550 BGN per month per person under the measures of the Employment Promotion Act, and when hiring unemployed persons with higher education, 630 BGN will be subsidised, as well as the insurances due. The rest of the salary will be provided by the employers.

The remuneration of the young persons included in the Career Start Program has increased from 700 BGN to 800 BGN, of the youth mediators at the municipalities – from 730 BGN to 830 BGN, of the psychologists – from 750 BGN to 950 BGN, of case managers – from 750 BGN to 900 BGN, of Roma mediators with secondary education – from 650 BGN to 750 BGN. The salaries of Roma mediators with higher education will also increase – from 700 BGN to 800 BGN, under the Activation of Inactive Persons Program. The funds for mentors have increased – from 180 BGN to 200 BGN.

In order to promote the territorial mobility of the unemployed persons, the funds for transport costs for presentation before employers are increased – up to 20% of the remuneration for subsidised employment (up to 130 BGN). The amount of the funds for training of unemployed persons for acquisition of first, second and third degree of professional qualification and for training for acquisition of qualification in part of profession is also increasing.

Under the regional employment programs of the 28 regions, 2,500 unemployed persons are expected to start working in 2021. The Beautiful Bulgaria Project will provide employment for 230 persons. Under the two-year training plan conducted by the State Enterprise “Bulgarian-German Centre for Vocational Training”, 2,800 persons from different disadvantaged groups on the labour market will be trained.

Under projects implemented by the social partners, 6,859 unemployed persons will participate in trainings for acquisition of key competencies and professional qualifications in occupations in demand on the labour market.