Did you start your first job this summer?

Are you about to find your first job or have you already found it or are you starting soon in Bulgaria?

In this post, we will look at what documents you need to start working (if you don't know them yet), a few details of our labor legislation, what insurances are paid and what kind of leave you are entitled to in Bulgaria.

It is good to know that labor legislation in Bulgaria sets a minimum age for starting work of 16 years.For persons under 16 years of age, there are special requirements, one of which is to have permission from the Labor Inspectorate to start working.

Required documents for starting work!

Identity document / ID card - A mandatory document when starting any job, and after they make a copy of your identity data, the document must be returned to you.

Employment record - If this is your first job, the employment record is obtained from the employer. He fills in the data in it and is obliged to return it to you, unless you request that it be kept with him while you work there.

Medical examination document – ​​A mandatory document when starting a job, as well as when you have not worked under an employment contract for more than 3 months. This document is issued by the general practitioner and is paid for (the fee varies between 15 BGN and 30 BGN).

Certificate of completed education – a diploma of higher or secondary education, qualification, legal capacity or other certificate.

Criminal record certificate – Not every employer requires it. A criminal record certificate is issued with an application to the district court of the place of residence or place of birth. There is also an option to obtain the certificate electronically from here . The certificate is issued on the day of request, unless a reference to the district court of the place of residence is required, then the period is 3 days from the date of receipt of the application. The validity period is 6 months from the date of issue.

Working hours and what you need to know about them!

Working hours are determined by signing the employment contract

Full-time work is a normal duration of 8 hours in a 5-day work week or a total of 40 hours

Reduced working hours; Part-time work; Extended working hours; Working hours with variable limits

Night work (applies only to adults) is considered work performed between 22:00 and 06:00. The duration of night work in a 5-day work week is 7 hours or a total of 35 hours.

You are also entitled to a minimum of two technological breaks during the working day (usually each is about 15 minutes). The lunch break cannot be less than 30 minutes.

In a 5-day work week, you must rest for two consecutive days, one of which is Sunday by default. The uninterrupted weekly rest must be at least 48 hours.

Insurance and pension funds

When you are on an employment contract, the employer is obliged to insure you for all social risks such as: health insurance and maternity, work accident, occupational disease and unemployment, disability due to general illness, etc. The employer is obliged to pay insurance contributions on the amount of your remuneration under the employment contract every month.

Insurance for a supplementary pension in a universal pension fund or in the National Social Security Institute for those born after 31.12.1959 is mandatory. You can choose a fund within 3 months of starting your first job. If you do not make a choice, you will be automatically assigned to one of the funds.

Leave at first job

Each employee is entitled to paid and unpaid leave. When starting their first job, the employee can use paid annual leave only when they have acquired at least 8 months of work experience. While you have accumulated this 8-month internship, you can use unpaid annual leave after your employer approves it.

According to our labor legislation, you receive annual leave of at least 20 working days per calendar year. If you have not used your leave by the end of the calendar year, it is transferred to the next calendar year. If you terminate your employment contract before you have used paid leave, the employer must pay it to you.

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