After Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, the Balkan country welcomed many foreign citizens. Many of them were employed by Bulgarian companies or international firms registered in Bulgaria. Some expats even started their own business.
The favourable tax conditions and fairly simple requirements of the Bulgarian legislation make this process quick and easy.

If you are a foreigner who resides in Bulgaria, you are probably familiar with the basics of employment law in the country. However, certain situations can arise when you might need legal services in the field. No matter if you have an employment contract or your own Bulgarian company, it is always a good idea to have a trusted local lawyer. They can help you with any questions or concerns you might have about labour law in Bulgaria.

Choose a trusted employment lawyer

Choosing the right legal expert can be difficult, especially in a foreign country. A simple internet search will likely generate hundreds of results without a guarantee for success. 

Therefore, we advise you to look for a law firm with excellent reviews from customers. Or better yet, a firm that has been recommended to you by people you know and trust. 

“Danailova, Todorov and Partners” is a law firm with experience of more than a decade. We have established and continue to maintain a reputation built on trust, attention to detail and high professional standards. Our clients appreciate the individual approach and the care with which each case is handled. 

The firm offers a wide range of legal services: commercial law, contract law, real estate and transportation law among others. However, employment law is one of the main fields in which we excel. 

“Chambers and Partners'' is a company that publishes prestigious international rankings for the legal industry. They distinguished our law firm for 6 consecutive years in the practice area of employment law. 

What Bulgarian labour law covers

The labour legislation in Bulgaria consists of many different statutes but the main one is the Labour Code.
This key piece of legislation regulates the relationship between employer and employee. 

The Labour Code covers everything from working conditions, working hours, paid leave, social security - maternity leave, sick leave, retirement requirements, to health and safety, discrimination law, etc. 

Some important aspects of Bulgarian labour law: 

• The minimum wage in Bulgaria amounts to 977 leva (€499), the lowest among the EU member states. 
• The retirement age for women is currently 62 years and 2 months and for men - 64 years and 7 months. The tendency for both is to increase in the coming years. 
• Sick paid leave is allowed after the employee presents a certified medical document that they are not capable of performing their work duties for a certain amount of time. The remuneration for the duration of the sick leave is usually between 70 and 80% of the regular salary. 
• Bulgaria is one of the countries in the EU that allows the longest maternity leave. Each woman who gives birth has the right to be on a paid leave from her job for 410 days (58 weeks) that can begin 45 days before the birth due date. The monthly payment that the mother receives during this period equals 90% of her regular salary.
  
  The maternity leave can be extended until the child turns 2 years old.  If the mother decides to do this, she will receive the fixed minimum monthly salary.

• Paid paternity leave in Bulgaria lasts only 15 days but after the child has turned 6 months, the remaining maternity leave can be split between the two parents.

Legal services in the employment law field

Here are some of the legal services that the lawyers at “Danailova, Todorov and Partners” can offer you when it comes to employment law: 

• Drafting employment contracts and other documents regarding the employer-employee relationship (job descriptions, agreements, annexes, etc.);
• Consultations about contract conclusion, modification and termination;
• Preparing an internal code of conduct and other employer’s policies;
• Drafting collective agreements and negotiations with trade unions;
• Mass layoffs or cut of staff;
• Legal advice and assistance in claims for reinstatement and claims for compensation;
• Settling the residency and work status of foreigners employed in Bulgaria;
• Mediation between employers and employees in negotiations for out-of-court settlements;
• Legal representation and litigation before the court or other administrative bodies in disputes about:
  
  • work incidents and injuries;
  • discrimination at the workplace; 
  • disciplinary or illegal dismissal from work.

Of course, each case is unique and will be handled with attention and a personal approach. Our experts have a deep knowledge of the Bulgarian legislation, as well as rich experience with all kinds of situations and cases. We have customers all around Bulgaria and in other European countries.

We can assist you in Bulgarian, English, German, Russian, and French, so do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions and issues related to employment law in Bulgaria.

We guarantee that our lawyers will carefully examine each detail of your case and put all their efforts into finding the best solution for you.
We consider your success to be our success, too.

“Danailova, Todorov and Partners” Law Firm provides top-quality legal services on all aspects of trade law, contractual law, employment law, administrative law and tax law. We are a partner you can rely on.