The Executive Agency "General Labour Inspectorate" (EAGLI) has outlined the broad scope of its autumn campaigns for intensified control over compliance with labour legislation. The institution's press office informed the BTA that active inspections in summer resort complexes will continue until the end of September, after which, starting from November 1, inspectors will turn their attention to winter resorts. Within these operations, the focus will be placed on the lawful establishment of employment relationships, the hiring of minors and third-country nationals, as well as strict adherence to the rules regarding working hours, leaves, and labor remuneration. In parallel, the agency will monitor the provision of healthy and safe working conditions, with a specialized campaign in the "Care" sector launching this autumn.

Control along the Black Sea coast, which began on May 1, is being carried out by the territorial directorates in Burgas, Varna, and Dobrich, with additional staff from other cities seconded for the purposes of the active summer season. The results of the campaign so far show the scale of the inspection:

  • A total of 724 inspections have been carried out, 93 of which took place on weekends.
  • The inspections cover 720 enterprises and a total of 23,350 workers.
  • Over 3,240 violations of labour legislation were found, including 356 cases related to labor remuneration and 441 cases concerning working hours.
  • 109 employees were identified working without an employment contract, 29 foreigners were found working without access to the labour market, and 17 minors were found working without the necessary authorization from the Labour Inspectorate.
  • 227 administrative violation acts have been issued.

The Inspectorate pays special attention to the labor of minors, noting that the increasing number of permits issued over the years is a reason for conducting a large-scale national campaign. It covers employers and sites with an increased risk of hiring minors or working without contracts, including inspections outside the agency's regular working hours. Since the beginning of the year, 14,377 permits for hiring minors have been granted, while 232 applications were refused due to the non-compliance of working conditions with the specific needs and care that the employer is obliged to provide. Despite the intensified control, 239 violations were identified in the sector, including 105 cases where young people worked without the mandatory permit from the EAGLI.

During the upcoming autumn period, the agency is launching a campaign for compliance with legal requirements in the "Care" sector, covering the activities "Residential care for medical and social needs" and "Social work without accommodation." The focus here is on employers, intermediaries, and facilities for health, social, and home care, while at the same time, the EAGLI will support the information initiative of the European Labour Authority (ELA). Simultaneously, the year-round campaign continues for monitoring compliance with the minimum requirements for the protection of workers from potential risks when exposed to chemical agents, carcinogens, or mutagens at work.

On a national scale, the control activity of the General Labour Inspectorate remains focused on tackling undeclared employment and ensuring workplace safety in all sectors, with a constant focus on construction, agriculture, trade, and the restaurant industry. The construction industry remains under surveillance due to the high volume of work, especially in large regional centers. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 31,821 inspections have been carried out, 5,271 of which were in construction; out of a total of 2,371 workers detected without an employment contract, 983 were in this very sector. Agriculture also remains a priority due to the high risk of violations, with increased control exercised during campaigns for the harvesting of fruits, vegetables, lavender, tobacco, and rose blossoms, with the aim of reducing occupational injuries.