site.btaVacant Jobs in National Railway System Number around 2,000

There are about 2,000 vacancies in the railway transport system in Bulgaria. The data are stated in a written answer to a parliamentary question to caretaker Minister of Transport and Communications Krasimira Stoyanova on the staffing of Holding BDZ - Bulgarian State Railways, National Railway Infrastructure Company, BDZ- Passengers and BDZ- Cargo. The question was raised by MPs Nikola Dimitrov and Emil Yankov from the Vazrazhdane parliamentary group. 

Stoyanova's reply points out that there are 116 jobs in Holding BDZ, of which 28 are vacant. In BDZ-Cargo the total number of jobs is 2,354, with 305 vacancies. The total number of jobs in BDZ-Passengers is 5,501, of which 354 are currently vacant. In the National Railway Infrastructure Company there are 11,651 jobs, of which 1,305 are vacant. 

The average age of the employees in the above-mentioned companies is 52 years, the Minister's response also said. There are also employees who have reached retirement age but are still working. 

The average salary in Holding BDZ is BGN 2,414, in BDZ - Cargo - BGN 2,282, in BDZ - Passengers - BGN 2,117, and in the National Railway Infrastructure Company - BGN 1,892, Minister Stoyanova's reply reads. 

In order to cope with the staff shortage, BDZ Holding and the National Railway Infrastructure Company have their own licensed Vocational Training Centres, which also offer contracts for work in the system. Both vocational training and qualification centres run courses for regulated professions key to the line of work. Trainees are trained in the professions of operation and maintenance, traffic control, locomotive engineer and assistant locomotive engineer, switchmen among others. It is proposed to pay for the training course, a monthly grant equal to the national minimum wage throughout the training period, sign a contract and guarantee employment, the reply to MPs said. 

In parallel, BDZ - Passengers carries out a contract for dual training and cooperates with four vocational schools in the country. 13 classes have been opened and filled with more than 150 students studying specialities and professions with staff shortage.  The companies also cooperate with the Todor Kableshkov University of Transport, the University of National and World Economy - Sofia, the Angel Kanchev University of Ruse, with internship and scholarship programmes. Active work is also ongoing with the Labour Office and social partners. 

Minister Stoyanova's reply concludes with a reminder that a process of rolling stock renewal and railway infrastructure modernization is underway, which will improve working conditions for railway workers.