SIX NEW SECTORS SHALL IMPLEMENT WORKFORCE COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT MODELS

The Bulgarian Workforce Competence Assessment Council approved six new economic sectors which shall implement workforce competence assessment models. These are the following:

1.       Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products;

2.       Hotels and restaurants;

3.       Manufacture of food products (meat, beverages, dairy products, bread);

4.       Manufacture of electrical equipment;

5.       Manufacture of furniture;

6.       Manufacture of general purpose machinery and other special purpose machinery.

The expert groups at the specifically set up Sector Skills Unit for competence assessment shall be assigned the development and implementation of sector competence models. Their operation shall be monitored by the following branch employers' organizations:

• Bulgarian Branch Association of Electronic Industry and Informatics (BBAEII)

• Bulgarian Tourist Chamber (BTC)

• Association of Meat Processors  in Bulgaria (AMB)

• Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASSEL)

• Branch Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry (BCWFI)

• Bulgarian Branch Chamber of Machine Building (BBCMB)

Today's decision has increased the number of pilot sectors which shall develop and implement competence models to seven, after BIA signed the first agreement with the Bulgarian Association of Metallurgical Industry (BAMI) on 15 February 2011 and launched the establishment of the first pilot sector skills unit for competence assessment.

The Bulgarian Workforce Competence Assessment Council held today its second meeting and listened to a progress report about the activities conducted within the project which BIA has been implementing under Human Resources Development Operational Programme, especially the progress concerning the establishment of a Bulgarian Competence Assessment Network by sectors and regions.

The attendees were introduced to a pack of proposals for regulation amendments which aim at fighting back and limiting the workforce shortage. The Council adopted the proposals and assigned the Bulgarian Competence Assessment Center to concur them with the social partners so they could be put into practice. The pack of proposals is to be officially announced to the public in the beginning of March this year.  

***

The Bulgarian Workforce Competence Assessment Council was established in October 2010 as the first step in the development of a Bulgarian Competence Assessment Network by sectors and regions. The council members include representatives of employers' organizations and trade unions, Deputy Ministers from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, the President of the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training, representatives from the academia and branch employers' organizations.