06/12/2016 RAP/RCha/BGR/15(2017) EUROPEAN SOCIAL CHARTER 15th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by THE GOVERNMENT OF BULGARIA Articles 3, 11, 12, 13 and 14 for the period 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2015 Report registered by the Secretariat on 6 December 2016 CYCLE 2017 FIFTEENTH NATIONAL REPORT For the period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2015 submitted by the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria before the Council of Europe in accordance with Article С of the European Social Charter (revised) on the measures for the implementation of the provisions adopted by it. Table of Contents: Introduction...................................................................................................................................3 Provisions of the European Social Charter(r) Article 3 - The right to safe and healthy working conditions .......................................................5 Article 3, paragraph 1 ...............................................................................................................5 Article 3, paragraph 2 .............................................................................................................13 Article 3, paragraph 3 .............................................................................................................27 Article 3, paragraph 4 .............................................................................................................44 Article 11 - Right to health protection........................................................................................47 Article 11, paragraph 1 ...........................................................................................................47 Article 11, paragraph 2 ...........................................................................................................70 Article 11, paragraph 3 ...........................................................................................................76 Article 12 – The right to social security ...................................................................................100 Article 12, paragraph 1 .........................................................................................................101 Article 12, paragraph 3 ........................................................................................................135 Article 13 – Right to social and medical assistance..................................................................137 Article 13, paragraph 1 .........................................................................................................137 Article 13, paragraph 2 .........................................................................................................153 Article 13, paragraph 3 .........................................................................................................154 Article 14 – The right to benefit from social welfare services .................................................155 Article 14, paragraph 1 .........................................................................................................155 Article 14, paragraph 2 .........................................................................................................158 Introduction the present Report is drawn up after consultations and in cooperation with the competent departments, inter alia the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Health, the National Health Insurance Fund, the National Social Security Institute, the General Labour Inspectorate Executive Agency, the Agency for Social Assistance, the National Revenue Agency. In accordance with article С of the European Social Charter (r) the Report is coordinated with the representative employers’ and workers’ organisations. The Report contains information about the implementation of the following provisions of the European Social Charter (р): article 3, paragraphs 1-4, article 11, paragraphs 1-3, article 12, paragraphs 1 and 3, article 13, paragraphs 1-3, article 14, paragraphs 1-2. The Bulgarian national currency is the lev /BGN/ and its exchange rate is fixed to the euro at BGN 1.95583 for EUR 1 (EUR 0.511292 for BGN 1). The Bulgarian Government remains available for any further questions or clarifications that might arise in the process of consideration of the present Report. Income reference year Measurement Indicator unit 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Median equivalized income (MEI) BGN, per month 225,50 241,33 353,92 460,83 491,67 475,00 466,08 476,50 539,67 543,00 Poverty threshold - 40% of MEI BGN, per month 90,17 96,50 141,58 184,33 196,67 190,00 186,42 190,58 215,83 217,17 Poverty threshold - 50% of MEI BGN, per month 112,75 120,67 176,92 230,42 245,83 237,50 233,00 238,25 269,83 271,50 Poverty threshold - 60% of MEI BGN, per month 135,33 144,75 212,33 276,50 295,00 285,00 279,67 285,92 323,75 325,83 Source: NSI, Eurostat - Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database Income reference year Measurement Indicator unit 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Median equivalized income BGN, per (MEI) month 225,50 241,33 353,92 460,83 491,67 475,00 466,08 476,50 539,67 543,00 Poverty threshold - 40% of BGN, per MEI month 90,17 96,50 141,58 184,33 196,67 190,00 186,42 190,58 215,83 217,17 Poverty threshold - 50% of BGN, per MEI month 112,75 120,67 176,92 230,42 245,83 237,50 233,00 238,25 269,83 271,50 Poverty threshold - 60% of BGN, per MEI month 135,33 144,75 212,33 276,50 295,00 285,00 279,67 285,92 323,75 325,83 Source: NSI, Eurostat - Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database Income reference yearb) Measurement Indicator а) unit 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Median equivalized income BGN, per (MEI) month 225,50 241,33 353,92 460,83 491,67 475,00 466,08 476,50 539,67 543,00 Poverty threshold - 40% of BGN, per MEI month 90,17 96,50 141,58 184,33 196,67 190,00 186,42 190,58 215,83 217,17 Poverty threshold - 50% of BGN, per MEI month 112,75 120,67 176,92 230,42 245,83 237,50 233,00 238,25 269,83 271,50 Poverty threshold - 60% of BGN, per MEI month 135,33 144,75 212,33 276,50 295,00 285,00 279,67 285,92 323,75 325,83 Source: NSI, Eurostat - Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database Important: а) The data for the median equivalized income and the poverty thresholds is taken from various statements of Eurostat, respectively [ilc_di03] and [ilc_li01]. This explains the presence of small differences – e.g. if BGN 543.00 is multiplied by 40%, the result would be BGN 217.20, rather than BGN 217.17, i.e. there is a difference of BGN 0.03. The difference is insignificant but still exists. b) The income reference year differs from the year, in which the study was carried out – e.g. the data for the household income in 2015 is collected through an investigation that is carried out in 2016 Year Monthly salary for the country From 01 January 2012 to 30 April 2012 – 270 BGN 2012 From 01 May 2012 to 31 December 2012 – 290 BGN 2013 310 BGN 2014 340 BGN From 01 January 2015 to 30 June 2015 – 360 BGN 2015 From 01 July 2015 to 31 December 2015 – 380 BGN Article 3 - The right to safe and healthy working conditions With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right to safe and healthy working conditions, the Parties undertake, in consultation with employers' and workers' organisations: 1. to formulate, implement and periodically review a coherent national policy on occupational safety, occupational health and the working environment. The primary aim of this policy shall be to improve occupational safety and health and to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of work, particularly by minimising the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment; 2. to issue safety and health regulations; 3. to provide for the enforcement of such regulations by measures of supervision; 4. to promote the progressive development of occupational health services for all workers with essentially preventive and advisory functions. Appendix to article 3, paragraph 4 It is understood that for the purposes of this provision the functions, organisation and conditions of operation of these services shall be determined by national laws or regulations, collective agreements or other means appropriate to national conditions. Information that should be submitted: Article 3, paragraph 1 Scope of the provisions pursuant to the interpretation of the ECSR: The parties must prepare a national policy on safe and healthy working conditions and periodically revise it. The authorities must carry out consultations with the workers’ and employers’ organisations upon the formulation of national policies and strategies in this field. The improvement of the safe and healthy working conditions must be carried out through training and research activities, in addition to the other measures. 1) Please, describe the national policy on safe and healthy working conditions and the consultation with the workers’ and employers’ organisations upon the formulation thereof. Please, specify the type, reasons and scope of the conducted reforms, if any. On 26 June 2008, the Bulgarian Government approved with a Ministerial Decision the Strategy on Safety and Health at Work, 2008-2012. Pursuant to the Ministerial Decision, the Minister of Labour and