Six new operations were approved by the Monitoring Committee of the Human Resources Development Program (2021-2027). The total value of the measures is nearly BGN 114 million Through them, the quality of administrative services for citizens and businesses will be improved, the attraction of Bulgarian and foreign citizens to work in Bulgaria will be encouraged, healthcare specialists will be supported and social dialogue and collective bargaining will be stimulated.

A new measure for attracting Bulgarian and foreign citizens to work in Bulgaria

“Destination: Bulgaria” is the new measure, which is expected to attract at least 705 Bulgarian and foreign citizens to work in Bulgaria. The operation budget amounts to BGN 15 million and the Employment Agency will be the one to implement the project activities until 2027. Project participants should have resided in a foreign country for the last 12 months or have recently completed their higher education in another country. The main operation objective is to take action to attract workforce with appropriate job descriptions in Bulgaria, including by providing packages of measures to support mobility. They will provide renting home assistance for a term of up to 12 months if the person starts work in a settlement in which he does not own his own home. Foreign citizens or family members who are foreign citizens will be able to participate in Bulgarian language training. Transport to and from the workplace will be provided for those who have started work in Bulgaria.

BGN 20 million to support healthcare post-graduate students

By the new measure “Specialization in Healthcare +” under the HRDP, the post-graduate students studying in the healthcare system will be supported with a focus on deficit specialties and fields with an established shortage of specialists. The measure is expected to cover 280 health workers to increase their competences. The operation has a budget of BGN 20 million and will last until 2028. The specific beneficiary is the Ministry of Health. Under the measure, a monthly financial incentive of BGN 807 is planned for specialists trained in deficit for Bulgaria specialties and in fields with an established shortage of specialists.

SAA will open a free telephone line for its services

The Social Assistance Agency will open a free telephone line, where information on the services provided by the Agency will be available. The opening of the unified call center will be implemented under the measure "Strengthening the capacity of the employees of the Social Assistance Agency in connection with the modernization of the social protection systems" under the HRDP. The main objective of the measure is to modernize the activities of the SAA as an administration implementing the state policy on social assistance and social protection.

Digitalization of the NSSI archive

The archive of the National Social Security Institute will be digitized under the measure “Modernization and Digitalization of the Services of the National Social Security Institute”, which was voted by the Monitoring Committee of the Human Resources Development Programme. The main objective of the measure is to strengthen the institution's capacity for better provision of services and consumer servicing. Within the procedure, the administrative capacity will be strengthened to about 1,500 National Social Security Institute employees.

Ninety employees of the Commission for Protection Against Discrimination will upgrade their competences

Ninety employees of the Commission for Protection Against Discrimination are expected to upgrade their competencies under operation “NO to discrimination” under the HRDP, which has a budget of BGN 1,6 million and lasts till 2026. The main objective of the measure is to strengthen the capacity and expertise of the Commission for Protection Against Discrimination as a body responsible for ensuring the equality of citizens before the law.

Nearly BGN 52 million to promote social dialog and collective bargaining

HRDP will open for applications the "Social Partnership" operation which budget amounts to BGN 51 948 800. Candidates and partners of the measure may be the representative organizations of employers and employees at national level. The measure will promote social dialog and collective bargaining through joint activities and by strengthening the capacity of social partners to develop tools and policies, accelerate digital and sustainable transformation, and adapt workers, businesses, and entrepreneurs to changes through social dialog strengthening.

For more information: https://esf.bg/komitetat-za-nabljudenie-na-prchr-odobri-shest-novi-operacii-na-obshta-stojnost-okolo-114-mln-lv/