The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy is introducing an innovative financial support scheme for working citizens who invest in their own professional development. The new initiative provides transport allowances for employees participating in training programs with vouchers.
The project "Qualification, Skills, and Career Development of Employed Persons - Component 2" aims to stimulate internal labor mobility and expand professional competencies. Financial support will be available for employed and self-employed persons undergoing in-person or blended training courses.
The mechanism for granting transport funds includes two main options. For training in the place of residence, three leva will be provided per in-person study day. When the course is conducted outside the trainee's permanent address, the allowance will amount to eight leva per day.
A key condition for receiving financial support is successfully completing the training and maintaining employment. The allowance will be granted for a maximum of six months, with the start date not being earlier than April 30, 2025.
An interesting detail is that the program will cover the entire country, except for Sofia city. To receive compensation, candidates must have completed at least four hours of in-person training within one day.
According to the Executive Director of the Employment Agency, Smilen Valov, the initiative is aimed at overcoming labor market challenges. Statistics show that around 200,000 people in Bulgaria are inactive - neither working nor studying.
The total project budget amounts to 10 million leva, with nearly 12,210 working citizens expected to be supported. Applications will be done entirely electronically, with the procedure start set for August 4.
Those wishing to get more information can familiarize themselves with the details on the official website of the Employment Agency. In parallel with this initiative, the institution is working on creating a national registry of inactive persons, which is expected to be ready by the end of the current year.
Experts emphasize that such programs are extremely important for improving the qualifications and competitiveness of Bulgarian workers in the modern dynamic economic environment.