R E P U B L I C O F BULGARIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL POLICY 2, Triaditza str. 1051 Sofia, tel.: +359 2 8119 443, fax: +359 2 986 13 18, e-mail: [email protected] Approved Minister NATIONAL REPORT For the period from 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2004 made by the Government of Republic of Bulgaria in accordance with Article C of the Revised European Social Charter, on the measures taken to give effect to the accepted provisions of the Revised European Social Charter. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE..........................................................................................................................p.3 ARTICLE 1, PARA. 4........................................................................................................p.4 Article 2............................................................................................................................p.12 Article 2, PARA 2.............................................................................................................р.17 Article 2, PARA 4.............................................................................................................р.23 Article 2, PARA 5.............................................................................................................р.36 Article 2, PARA 6.............................................................................................................р.39 Article 2, PARA 7............................................................................................................ р.44 Article 3............................................................................................................................р.48 ARTICLE 3, PARA 1.......................................................................................................р.49 ARTICLE 3, PARA 2.......................................................................................................р.52 ARTICLE 3, PARA 3.......................................................................................................р.55 ARTICLE 3, PARA 4.......................................................................................................р.65 ARTICLE 4…………......................................................................................................р.78 ARTICLE 4, PARA 2.......................................................................................................р.78 ARTICLE 4, PARA 3.......................................................................................................р.81 ARTICLE 4, PARA 4.......................................................................................................р.88 ARTICLE 4, PARA 5.......................................................................................................р.92 ARTICLE 21....................................................................................................................р.95 ARTICLE 22..................................................................................................................р.104 ARTICLE 24………......................................................................................................р.114 ARTICLE 26..................................................................................................................р.139 ARTICLE 26, PARA 1...................................................................................................р.139 ARTICLE 26, PARA 2...................................................................................................р.150 ARTICLE 27, PARA 2...................................................................................................р.154 ARTICLE 27, PARA.3...................................................................................................р.157 ARTICLE 28..................................................................................................................р.159 ARTICLE 29..................................................................................................................р.165 2 PREFACE The present Report has been prepared after consultations and in cooperation with the relevant authorities. In accordance with Article C of the Revised European Social Charter, copy of this Report has been communicated to the national representative organizations of employers’ and workers’ presented in National Council for Tripartite Cooperation. The present Report contains information for the first part of the accepted non hard- hard core provisions of the ESC (r) (Articles 1.4, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 21, 22, 24, 26.1, 26.2, 27.2, 27.3, 28 and 29). The Bulgarian national currency is leva (BGN) and its exchange rate is fixed to the Euro at 1.95583 BGN for 1 Euro (0.511292 Euro for 1 BGN). 3 Article 1 - The Right to work Article 1, Paragraph 4 Vocational guidance Questions and comments of the European Committee of Social Rights: The Committee asks the next report to clarify the institutions involved in vocational guidance services, their organisation, staff and number of beneficiaries. It also asks for the guidance specifically provided to persons with disabilities. As far as unemployed people are concerned, the Committee notes that the labour offices provide them with vocational guidance,vocational information and consultancy. The Committee asks for more exhaustive information on this kind of guidance. 1. Institutions providing vocational guidance 1.1. Within the structure of the National Employment Agency In the 2003-2004 period vocational advice and consultancy was carried out in the Employment Bureau Directorates (EBD) or in the Vocational Guidance Centres (VGC), including the following: Vocational Information Centres (VIC), Centers for Vocational Training and Counseling (CVTC) and Job Clubs. The VIC’s and CVTS’s offer vocational information, self information and counseling for unemployed persons, employed persons and persons who are studying, up-to-date information about different vocations, as well as possibilities for education, qualification and career development. The Job Clubs carry out personalized and group trainings for acquiring active labor market behavior skills. Order № 130 of the Executive Director of the National Employment Agency, based on article 65, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Employment Promotion Act, reformed the existing VIC’s, CVTS’s and Job Clubs into Job Centers (as of 1 February 2005), as specialized units under the respective Employment Bureau Directorate with activities in the field of vocational guidance and creation of active labor market behavior skills. The unification of the specialized information and consultation units facilitated the establishment of unified practices in this field, with goals that are clearly defined, work techniques, methodological guidance and information supply. In 2005 6 new Job Centers were opened and as of this moment the National Employment Agency has 52 functioning information and consultation units. 1.2. Within the structure of the Ministry of Education and Science In 2004 the Minister of Education and Science issued an order establishing a National Pedagogical Center. The latter represents a state service unit in the meaning of Article 33a, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the National Education Act. The Center organizes and coordinates activities for the implementation at a national and regional level of the Ministry of Education and Science policy in the field of pedagogical support and consultation of students, teachers and parents. Activities are aimed at qualification of teaching staff; keeping students in school and prevention of them dropping out; vocational guidance and consultation. 4 The Center structure consists of a central management and regional centers with seats in all cities that are regional centers, and with a total personnel number of 72 staff members. 2. Activities carried out by the units within the professional guidance system – common and according to target groups The vocational guidance – information and consultation, implemented by the EBD may be individual, group and independent vocational guidance. 2.1. Individual vocational guidance is carried out by a labour mediator. During individual information and consultation the persons seeking employment receive information concerning types of jobs that are in demand on the labor market (working tasks performed, working environment, requirements for exercising certain jobs, etc.), ways of acquiring a new job or updating the knowledge and skills connected with their previous job. They are informed about market situation and trends concerning qualification services, they use the available specialized information materials (brief descriptions, files, leaflets about jobs, videotapes, multimedia products, computer software, etc.) During consultation interviews with persons who have been considered to have qualification in a job that is in demand on the labour market, special attention is paid to basic skills (computer literacy – common or vocationally orientated, communication skills, foreign languages). Clients whose professional qualification does not provide them with a high possibility of finding employment are directed towards a vocational training course in other jobs/specialties in order to give them faster labor market placement. The mediator guides the clients towards different alternative vocational fields and gradually leads him or her to a self-conscious choice of a specific job. 2.2 Group vocational guidance is carried out in the Job