„The adopted change in the Law on Foreigners does not help the business for this summer. Before the start of the tourist season, there are businessmen who literally cry that they are going bankrupt because they have no workers. Hotels are opening, but there is no one to work. According to the changes, the 90-day stay of the seasonal worker while in Bulgaria can be extended by another 30 days. The big problem is with the arrival of these shots”. This was said by Veselin Halachev, chairman of the organization “United Business Clubs” in the show “ReVision” on NOVA NEWS.
In his words, the law allows seasonal workers to come to the country, but the start of their work here is delayed. Their arrival is delayed by 3, 7, sometimes even 12 months. “The worker has gone through the procedures, everything is documented, he goes to apply for his visa in the country where he lives and there they tell him: “Come on November 24”. I am talking about the embassy in New Delhi. But the season will have ended a long time ago”, Halachev said.
„By law, the employer is obliged to provide a round-trip ticket for a seasonal worker, to provide him with housing, to feed him. This is much more than for one Bulgarian worker, but this Bulgarian worker is gone, added the chairman of the United Business Clubs organization. and added that the employer is obliged to pay the worker a salary at the market price and has no right to pay a lower wage to a foreign worker.
Businesses can look to intermediaries for hiring seasonal workers from third parties. “United Business Clubs” we have a signed contract with the Uzbek government and we have the right to represent their workers in Bulgaria. We work directly with the state and the state stands behind these workers. Once these documents are collected, they are submitted to the "Migration" Directorate, if it is for long-term work, if it is for seasonal work, they are submitted directly to the Employment Agency. It must issue a ruling on the employer's status within 2 months, and then they are sent to the "Migration" Directorate. This is where the problem comes in, because letters are constantly being written and there is a 4-5 month wait, Halachev explained.
Hoteliers and restaurateurs are ready to protest because of the delay in permits to hire seasonal workers. “Their season collapsed”, added Halachev.