Bulgaria’s crisis-stricken businesses will receive state support

Bulgarian Workers and employees who have worked part-time from March 13th to December 31st, 2020/ were forced to go on unpaid leave by Art.173a of the Labor Code/ whose work was suspended due to the state restrictions will continue to receive funds. The employees have to present an employment relationship dating before the 1st of October 2020.

During the additional period of implementation of the measure, the amount of state support will cover up to 60 percent of the insurance income and the insurance contributions owed by the employer for October 2020. The extra financial resource for extension of the measure amounts to 147 million BGN, which is expected to save approximately 100 thousand jobs.

Bulgarian employers with a 20% decline in their sales revenues compared to the same period for 2019 will be able to apply for support by following the specific requirements.

Employers will be able to submit their applications for state aid for the period from January 1 - March 31, 2021, until April 15th, 2021. The applications will then be revised and granted funding.

According to the new regulations, people are entitled to compensation for no longer than 60 days in 2020 and no longer than 90 days in 2021, during which they have been on unpaid leave due to the imposed restrictions by the state body.

The eligibility period is also raised, with June 30th being the new deadline. The additional financial resource, guaranteeing the measure amounts to BGN 24.6 million and is expected to reach 33 thousand employees.

The financial resources required for the measure are provided by the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" through the financial mechanism REACT-EU.