Industrial Relations and Social Policy Centre

The Industrial Relations and Social Policy Centre at the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) develops analyses, positions and proposals in the sphere of tax, labour and insurance legislation. It offers assistance to the Bulgarian employers in the resolution of financial and economic problem matters, related to taxation, settlement of social and insurance bearings, labour bargains. The Centre assists for the inclusion of the approved programmes in the National employment action plan.

The Centre renders instruction and consulting assistance, focused on the problems of the Tax Legislation, Labour Code, Social Security Code, Law on Health and Safety Conditions at Work, and the applications of the subordinate legislation; advises in matters of employment legislation and measures for stimulating the employers. The lecturers in the Centre are highly qualified experts from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Finance, Tax Administration, National Social Security Institute, National Employment Agency, General Labour Inspectorate, and etc.

Representatives from the Industrial Relations and Social Policy Centre participate in the work of:

• National Tax Policy Council at the Ministry of Finance;

• National Council for Tripartite Cooperation;

• Supervisory Board of the National Institute for Conciliation and Arbitration;

• Supervisory Board of the National Social Security Institute and trust councils of supplementary compulsory pension insurance funds;

• National Council for stimulation of Employment at the Ministry of Labour and  Social Policy and Consultative Council at the National Employment Agency;

• National Council on Working Conditions and Managing Board of the Labour Conditions Fund;

The Industrial Relations and Social Policy Centre at BIA assisted in the following matters:

• Series of cases of contentious interpretations over the tax application, insurance and labour legislation, including the correspondent subordinate legislation, are settled.

• Numerous negotiation agreements for signing joint labour contracts and for the settlement of collective labour bargains are achieved.

• Series of programmes for the employment of jobless parties as well as for improving the qualification of the employees are developed

• Series of projects for improving the occupational conditions in the enterprises are developed and approved. They were partially financed by Labour Conditions Fund.