Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov announced today that a bill has been drafted to streamline the procedures for importing labor from countries outside the European Union. He expressed his willingness to present this project in a wider format, signaling the government's serious approach to the topic. The announcement was made during the national discussion "Tourism and Air Connectivity. Traditional Destinations and New Markets. The Key to Sustainable Growth", organized by the National Tourism Board and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the institutional support of the Ministry of Tourism.
The atmosphere in the hall was charged with anticipation. The organizers and participants were concerned about the future of the industry, and the discussions often turned into concrete proposals for solutions. Minister Karadjov was adamant that the government was ready to act.
The reason for the minister's statement was a speech by Prof. Nikolay Vulkanov, Chairman of the Board and owner of "Minstroy Holding" AD and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Tourism Board. The professor emphasized the critical problem of the shortage of qualified personnel, highlighting the difficulties associated with hiring workers from non-EU countries. Vulkanov emphasized the importance of good connectivity with airports, which opens the country's doors to foreign investment and tourist flows.
Minister Karadjov pointed out that among the discussed legislative changes is an increase in the quota for foreign employees in one company – from the current 20% to 50%. He noted that such proposals face resistance, with the main opponents being trade unions and certain political forces that express concerns that this would harm Bulgarian workers.
"We, as a government, stand by the position that the more opportunities are given to businesses, the more jobs there will be overall, the more taxes and social benefits there will be," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized. At the same time, he acknowledged the role of the government as an arbitrator in the complex relationships between the various stakeholders.
Karadjov recalled that measures to facilitate the hiring of labor from third countries were already drawn up in the spring. Based on them, organizational and financial steps have already been started by the government, which shows the cabinet's determination to deal with this growing problem. The measures taken reflect the government's willingness to support businesses, but also to find a balanced solution, taking into account the interests of all parties.