Labor offices in the country have launched an intensified campaign among Ukrainian refugees to clarify job opportunities and what they need to do. Employers have announced in the employment agency 200 thousand vacancies that could be filled immediately. However, the hunger for staff in the Bulgarian economy is much greater.
So far, 134 000 refugees from Ukraine have entered Bulgaria. Many of them have returned or gone to other countries, mainly to Spain. Of the remaining 60 000 here, only 27 have registered as seeking temporary protection.
"Very few of them say they want to work because they are mothers with children. When a mother with a child comes, she has certain requirements that we have to meet. These children need to have someone to look after them. We have arranged with the program of the Ministry of Education and Science, where they can be sent to kindergartens and schools. But many, for reasons inexplicable to me, have not declared a desire to work," said Ilin Dimitrov - Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the National Assembly.
About 2000 Ukrainians have sought help from labor offices. 424 employers sought the services of refugees. But few can provide accommodation for employees and transportation to work. It seems that the refugee wave will not significantly change the labor market in the country and the huge deficit will remain.
"We have pointed out that employers' organizations can include in the labor market up to 200 000 workers who come from Ukraine. This estimate is based on an analysis presented last year by the Employment Agency, which states that these are the opportunities for jobs that are not currently occupied and which, in the current situation, can take over those coming from Ukraine," said Jasmina Saraivanova - Bulgarian Industrial Association.
"In fact, we continue to see that there is no serious dumping, as we feared. Employers are forced to pay as much from this market as to Bulgarians. From this point of view, we have no worries as a trade union. For the general cases when we are looking for less qualified people in tourism, in other sectors, I think they can be welcome and are welcome on behalf of the largest union. Not only do we welcome them, but we try to do what is necessary. The labor market can take 200-250 thousand I would say. However, it depends on the field, as some sectors are usually looking for specialists with certain qualifications, which is unclear whether they will come from Ukraine as a workforce," CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov explained.
And the biggest shortage is of doctors and nurses, IT professionals, engineers, builders, in transport, in industry, electronics, automation, chemical technology, agriculture - or anything that supports our economy.
Against the background of the huge labor migration every year, the creation of better working conditions here is already life-saving and extremely urgent. And stepping up the administration around the refugee crisis could be a good start.
