site.btaDangerous Workplaces Shut Down by Labour Inspectors Have Tripled, Y/Y

The number of workplaces deemed dangerous and shut down by labour inspectors has more than tripled in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

More than three times as many worksites, workplaces, machines, and equipment that posed a direct threat to the life and health of workers were halted during the first quarter of 2025, according to the General Labour Inspectorate Executive Agency. The control authorities conducted over 13,000 inspections. The total number of labour law violations found exceeded 50,000, the Agency reported on Friday.

Violations related to ensuring healthy and safe working conditions amounted to nearly 28,000, while some 23,000 violations were found concerning the implementation of employment relationships.

In the first quarter of 2025, labour inspectors applied the measure of suspending worksites, machines, and equipment 370 times – more than triple the figure from the same period last year. A total of 22 workers were dismissed – 17 due to lack of required qualifications and 5 for failing to follow safety rules. These measures are of a preventive nature, aiming to avoid serious workplace accidents that could result in death or permanent disability.

Cases of work without an employment contract rose to 914, compared to 735 for the same period in 2024. The increased detection of such violations is also due to the implementation of so-called "rapid inspections" carried out outside of the Agency’s regular working hours. These have proven to be an effective practice not only for identifying cases of uncontracted employment but also for expanding the scope of control over high-risk entities in terms of illegal practices. These inspections specifically focus on ensuring that employment relationships are established lawfully. Inspectors verify whether written contracts exist for employees found at the worksite.

During the first quarter of the year, administrative violations numbered nearly 3,000. The total value of finalized penalty decrees and approved settlements exceeded BGN 3.8 million.

Delayed wages identified during this period amounted to over BGN 3.7 million. Thanks to the efforts of labour inspectors, more than BGN 1.6 million in delayed payments – including from previous periods – were paid out in the first quarter alone.