The Bulgarian Council of Ministers has adopted a National Occupational Safety and Health Program (NOSHP) for the period 2025-2027. This strategic document was developed based on an analysis of the working environment in the country as of the end of 2024 and aligns with the priorities of the European Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027.
The new NOSHP sets key priorities for ensuring safe and healthy working conditions up to 2027. The program takes into account changes in the workplace and the emergence of new occupational risks, proposing specific measures to address them. The main goal is to reduce the level of occupational risks and increase worker protection, which will lead to fewer workplace accidents and less lost working time due to temporary incapacity.
Along with the adoption of the new program, the government approved a report on the implementation of the previous NOSHP for the period 2022-2024. According to the report, 38 activities were carried out, aimed at improving legislation in the field of occupational safety and health, ensuring effective control, providing information support for sector policies, diagnosing occupational diseases in high-risk economic sectors, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration of workers.
In the context of this topic, the Executive Director of the Labor Inspectorate, Eng. Ekaterina Asenova, emphasized in an interview with BTA in April the importance of the role of employers. She stated:
The employer is obliged to take all measures to prevent and reduce occupational accidents and general illnesses, as well as occupational diseases, prioritizing the provision of collective protective equipment. Workers must use personal protective equipment and follow safety instructions.
The adoption of the new NOSHP and the report on the results of the previous program demonstrate the consistency in the Bulgarian government's policy to improve working conditions and protect workers. These actions are in line with European standards and aim to make workplaces in Bulgaria safer and healthier.