site.btaInterior Ministry Staff to Work Overtime Only If They Agree to Do So in Writing

Interior Ministry Staff to Work Overtime Only If They Agree to Do So in Writing

Sofia, October 6 (BTA) - Passing conclusively amendments to the Interior Ministry Act on Thursday Parliament resolved that Interior Ministry staff will be able to perform overtime work in excess of 70 hours quarterly and in excess of 280 hours annually only with the officer's express consent to do so set out in writing.

The amendments provide for performance of overtime work of up to 25 hours quarterly and up to 100 hours annually (in addition to the previous 70 and 280 hours respectively) in the event of disasters and other emergencies. The working time of the Interior Ministry staff will be reported as working days, while the working time of staff working eight- 12- or 24-hour shifts will be added up for quarterly periods, and not monthly as was the practice so far. Twenty-four hours shifts will be exception.

When staff is relocated for performing work longer than six months, the officers will be paid a one-off compensation to the amount of half the gross remuneration for the work in the new place. When such officers are accompanied by spouses/children, each of them will be paid a one-off compensation to the amount of a quarter of the officer's gross remuneration in the new place.

The Interior Ministry will keep a public register of the donations under international agreements or when the donor is a municipality, a state agency, state-owned company, an international organization, foreign state agency, the EU or its bodies and agencies.

A standing committee will be established with the Interior Ministry by a ministerial order, to review and approve donation agreements.

By another revision, the building of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is removed from the list of buildings and facilities guarded by the Interior Ministry.