Minimum Wage

General

The minimum wage is 710.00 BGN per month. This is also for registered farmers and tobacco growers.

Payroll

Payroll Cycle

The payroll cycle in Bulgaria is generally monthly, with payment being made on the last working day.

13th Salary

There are no provisions in the law regarding 13th salaries.

Working Hours

General

The standard working hours in Bulgaria are 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week.

Overtime

Work in excess of the standard workweek of 40 hours is to be paid as overtime and is regulated by employment contract or collective agreements.  In general, overtime maximum limits are set at 3 hours per day (across two consecutive days), 6 hours a week, 30 hours a month, and 150 hours per year.

Overtime hours are paid at 150% of the standard salary rate for working day hours, 175% for weekend hours overtime, and 200% for working on public holidays.

Working Week

Monday-Friday

Leave

Paid Time Off

Paid leave in Bulgaria is set in the employment contract as a minimum of 20 days paid leave a year, following completion of 4 months of employment.

Public Holidays

There are 15 public holidays in Bulgaria.

Sick Days

All employees are entitled to up to 18 months of sick leave.

Employees must provide a medical certificate within 48 hours of the first day of sickness. The first three days of sickness are paid for by the employer at a rate of 70% of the regular salary.  The National Social Security Fund then takes over the payments from day four (as long as the employee has completed at least six months of service or social security payments) at 80% of the regular salary rate or 90% for work-related sick leave or injury.

Maternity Leave

All female employees are eligible for maternity benefits, consisting of 410 days of paid maternity leave and generally commenced 45 days before the due date. 135 days of maternity leave are considered mandatory.

The maternity benefit will be paid to the employee as 90% of the regular salary rate by the NHIF.

Paternity Leave

Fathers are entitled to mandatory paid paternity leave of 15 days, paid at a rate of 90% of the regular salary rate from the child’s birth. Fathers are eligible for this entitlement once they have completed at least one year of employment.

Once the child is six months old, any remaining maternity leave can be shared between the mother and the father with the mother’s consent.

Parental Leave

In Bulgaria, Parental leave to raise a child is available with the employer’s permission until the child is two years old.  This leave is transferrable between the mother, the father, or grandparents.

Other Leave

Employees are entitled to two days of paid leave in the event of their marriage.

Employees are also entitled to two days of leave to attend the funeral of a family member.

Termination

Termination Process

The termination process is standard in Bulgaria, based on termination reasons contained within the Bulgarian Labor Law, unless an employer can provide sufficient cause for dismissal without notice (i.e. due to misconduct).

Notice of termination must be in writing and sent to the relevant governmental authorities.

Notice Period

The statutory minimum notice period in Bulgaria is 30 days’ notice, however, it is common practice to be 90 days.

Severance Pay

In Bulgaria, severance pay is mandatory when applicable. The amount differs based on the type of termination, (i.e. termination by the employee, termination by mutual agreement, termination without cause, and with cause in an indefinite term agreement and fixed-term agreement). It is common for the severance payment to be calculated as no less than four months’ gross salary and paid within no more than seven days after the termination.

Should the cause be a company downsizing decision, redundancy payments are generally one-month payments as severance unless stipulated differently within the employment contract.

Probation Period

The probation period for permanent employees is generally three months, up to a maximum of 6 months.

VISA

VISA

Any foreigner coming to work in Bulgaria will need to apply for a Bulgaria residence permit. The main legislation governing the issuance of residence permits for foreign citizens is the Foreign Nationals in the Republic of Bulgaria Act.

The legislation establishes foreigners may apply for one of the three types of Bulgarian residence permits; Bulgarian residence visas, residence visas for foreign employees, and long-term or extended residence visas.

VAT

General

20% standard rate.