site.bta202,810 Violations Found by General Labour Inspectorate in 2024

In 2024, the General Labour Inspectorate Executive Agency conducted 49,858 inspections in 41,863 enterprises with 1,755,669 employees, the Inspectorate’s press centre said. These inspections found 202,810 violations of labour legislation, including 105,761 affecting health and safety at work and 95,793 concerning employment relations.

Labour inspectors identified 3,601 people hired without employment contracts. The data show an increase in the number of workplaces, machinery, and equipment being shut down due to violations that directly jeopardize the safety and health of employees. These cases increased to 692, up from 466 in 2023. A total of 111 employees were dismissed for violating safety protocols.

The number of work permits issued to minors continued to grow in 2024, rising to 16,808 from 14,827 in 2023. The Inspectorate also conducted information campaigns in 90 schools across the country to educate young people about their employment rights and obligations. Cooperation agreements were signed with universities in Sofia.

In February 2024, the General Labour Inspectorate launched a national campaign aimed at preventing workplace accidents, with the support of the Labour and Social Policy Ministry, the Inspectorate recalled.

At the end of the year, the Inspectorate’s online tool, which allows workers to check if they are working undeclared, won first place in the Social Responsibility category at the Good Practices competition organized annually by the Institute of Public Administration.

On November 3, 2024, the General Labour Inspectorate marked its 117th anniversary. The Labour Inspectorate Act, approved by Prince Ferdinand's Decree of 1907, marked the beginning of the institution's history. This law consists of 15 articles outlining the structure, organization, and functions of the Inspectorate.