Manoil Manev and Temenuzka Petkova from GERB are the sponsors of the bill
24 April 2024Wednesday, 8:01 p.m.
Author: Flagman
Deputies with ambitions to vote them in two readings on the edge of the rules
The National Assembly will try to promptly adopt in two readings changes to the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria (ZChRB). They were approved today unanimously by the parliamentary Committee on Tourism.
The amendments were introduced on Tuesday by the deputies from GERB-SDS Manoil Manev and Temenuzka Petkova. They are about facilitating the hiring of seasonal workers.
The official Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev was also present at the meeting. He recalled that the case that the bill aims to resolve was among the first that his business presented after taking over the department.
Addressing the problem of third-country seasonal workers is an issue of concern to tourism employer organizations that are experiencing problems filling labor shortages. The adoption of this bill would be a sign of how the people’s representative supports the work of employers at this difficult time, Miloshev said, and added that it would be an undoubted success if these legislative changes were adopted in the remaining two working days of this parliament.
The main changes relate to the procedure for providing the opportunity for long-term and short-term seasonal employmentt. The bill aims to create a legal opportunity for a foreigner who resides on the territory of Bulgaria and holds a residence permit, other than the single permit for residence and work, highly qualified employment and intra-corporate transfer, to apply for residence without having to leave the territory of the countryis stated in the reasons for the project.
It also aims at clarifying the relevant provisions of the Labor Code regarding the health insurance of seasonal workers with the authorized right of long-term residence after receiving the residence document; possibility of extending the period of residence of foreigners performing seasonal work.
At an extraordinary meeting yesterday, the Committee on Internal Security and Public Order adopted the bill on first reading.
Manoil Manev stated that the staffing issue has started to become painful for the business that relies on seasonal workers. He pointed out that with the changes, deadlines for administrative procedures are reduced, and the 180-day visa desired by the industry is made possible. Manev said that for him personally, the greatest achievement was the opportunity of the so-called visa D (long-term residence visa – note r) to be extended from the territory of Bulgaria. He pointed out that this change will be useful not only for the tourism industry, but also for athletes and students.
I hope, with your support, the law will pass two readings on Thursday, so that businesses can benefit from the changes already this seasonManev addressed the members of the Commission.
Burgas MP from GERB-SDS Lyuben Dilov stated that if there are no obstructions from the legal department of the National Assembly, there is no obstacle to the bill passing through two readings. and pointed out that the regulation it will help not only tourism.
Vanina Vecina from the PG of “Continuing the Change-Democratic Bulgaria” expressed support for the bill, but pointed out that it solves only part of the problems accumulated over decades.
ITN’s Dragomir Petrov said he was glad that something was happening in tourism during the last two days of parliament’s work and criticized the work of the tourism department in the last one year. There are many imperfections in the law, many gaps, but it is better to accept some than to have none, Petrov said. He added that the possibility of moving a foreigner from a third country from one site of a given company to another has not been settled. The deputy pointed out that this should be settled in the next parliament.
The DPS also expressed support for the bill and emphasized on the importance of giving it the “green light” ahead of the upcoming summer season.
Deputies are pressed by deadlines, as Parliament is expected to close on April 26. It then goes on Easter break, and then will be out of action because of the election campaign.
