site.btaUkrainian Refugees in Bulgaria Enabled to Find Jobs by EU-Funded Measures

The National Employment Agency announced on Tuesday three measures with European funding, which are available to Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection in Bulgaria for their successful realization on the labour market. The total budget of BGN 404 million was provided under the Operational Programme Human Resources Development (OP HRD).

One of the measures will help unemployed refugees to participate in job fairs, online information campaigns, job workshops and will refer participants to vacancies, skills training, as well as validation of professional skills and qualifications at Activation Centres for Inactive Persons.

Under another measure, the unemployed and inactive will be targeted for training through vocational qualification vouchers and key competences such as foreign language skills, including Bulgarian.

Ukrainian nationals will be able to engage in supported employment for a period of 6 to 24 months. Employers will be provided with one-off incentives to maintain employment after the subsidized employment period expires.

Unemployed or inactive Ukrainians under 30 will be able to apply for an apprenticeship programme, on-the-job training and inclusion in subsidized employment.

Ukrainians with temporary protection who have young children and wish to integrate into the labour market can apply for a measure providing childcare for children who do not attend nurseries, kindergartens or pre-school.

Since the beginning of April, the implementation of the Solidarity project, which provides support for rapid labour integration of Ukrainian citizens who arrived here after February 24, 2022, has been extended. The project is funded under OP HRD 2014-2020. The employment of Ukrainians included in the project will be extended. Instead of the current three months, the subsidized employment will be six months. Employers will receive incentives for half of the duration of subsidized employment.