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Introduction
Bulgaria hosts ample business opportunities for expansion in Europe, especially in the manufacturing, IT, and agricultural sectors. Moreover, the labor laws here significantly affect its employment sector and are essential to businesses.
Bulgaria’s labor laws regulate different areas of employment, including leave entitlements. Additionally, collective labor agreements made by employers' organizations and trade unions influence the statutory obligations.
You must follow these guidelines to avoid legal issues and maintain ethical labor practices as an employer. Fortunately, this detailed guide will give you all the necessary information about the leave policy in Bulgaria.
Adoption Leave in Bulgaria
- Employees who adopt a child below five years old are granted adoption leave in Bulgaria for 365 days starting from the date of adoption.
- Adoptive fathers get two months of leave when taking care of children up to eight years old.
- Adoptive parents are entitled to a 365-day benefit calculated in the same way as the benefit for pregnancy and childbirth.
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Talk to an expertEarned Leave in Bulgaria
The minimum duration of earned leave in Bulgaria for the different categories of workers and employees is set by the Council of Ministers, according to which:
- All employees are entitled to at least 20 days of earned leave. However, employees can negotiate leave periods in collective bargaining agreements or individual employment contracts.
- Employees may take such leaves in a single, uninterrupted time or over numerous periods.
- Some employees are entitled to extended leave (disabled employees with a permanently decreased working capacity of 50% or more; employees under 18; employees working under special conditions with life and health threats, etc.).
- Some annual leave days may be carried over to the next calendar year; however, you must ensure that such leave is taken by mid-year.
- A newly appointed employee receives this privilege after four months of working experience.
You may also compensate employees with compensatory leave during employment.
Maternity Leave in Bulgaria
The maternity leave in Bulgaria, like many maternity leave policies around the world, follows specific provisions to assist mothers during their pregnancy and childbirth.
- Employees are entitled to 410 days of paid maternity leave, which begins 45 days before their due date. If the birth occurs within those 45 days, the remaining days can be used afterward.
- During this time, the employee receives a monthly payment from the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund equal to 90% of the regular salary.
Parental Leave in Bulgaria
- After using maternity or adoption leave, employees are entitled to extend parental leave in Bulgaria for their first, second, and third children until they turn two.
- With the employee's permission, this leave may be utilized by the employee or any of the child's grandparents who are employed.
- Extending parental leave for grandparents is uncommon in other countries, unlike Bulgaria.
Paternity Leave in Bulgaria
- The father is entitled to 15 days of paid leave beginning from the day of childbirth.
- An employee is only eligible for paternity leave in Bulgaria if the mother and father are married or share a household.
Public Holidays in Bulgaria
The public holidays in Bulgaria include:
Sick Leave Policy in Bulgaria
The sick leave policy in Bulgaria provides the following benefits:
- You cover the first three working days of sick pay up to 70% of the employee's daily gross income in the month in which the incapacity occurs.
- Following the first three days, the National Social Security Institute pays 80% of the average daily gross labor remuneration or the average daily income mentioned for social insurance for common diseases and 90% for job accidents and occupational diseases.
Casual Leave In Bulgaria
- There is no guaranteed right to casual leave in Bulgaria under the national labor law.
However, you may grant unpaid leave based on your discretion or under specific collective bargaining agreements.
Unpaid Leave in Bulgaria
You may grant unpaid leave to an employee upon request, regardless of whether the person has used their annual leave or not and the length of their employment.
Other Leaves
You may offer additional leave from work in the following circumstances:
- Two days of leave for marriage
- Two days of bereavement leave to attend the death rituals of close relatives.
- Two days off for blood examination and donation.
- Must allow employees to attend court of law when called upon as a party, witness, or expert.
- 25 days of paid leave for each year of study to employees who attend secondary or higher school. Learn more about sabbatical leave.
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FAQs
Q1. What is the notice period in Bulgaria?
A1. The law requires a 30-day notice period; however, a longer period (up to 3 months) may be agreed upon contractually. The notice period for terminating fixed-term contracts is three months but not longer than the contract's remaining duration.
Q2. How many days of leave do I have?
A2. You may enjoy at least 20 days of earned leave every year, in addition to public holidays and unpaid leave for personal reasons.
Q3. What are the maximum working hours in Bulgaria?
A3. The working hours can be increased to 12 hours (full-time workers) or one hour (part-time workers). The maximum duration of shift work, taken together with the overall calculation of working hours, shall not exceed 56 hours per week.
Q4. How long is Bulgaria’s maternity leave?
A4. The paid maternity leave in Bulgaria extends up to 410 days, starting 45 days before the due date of birth.
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