Voice of HR: Staff Recruitment from Countries outside the EU

?? Our March newsletter article provides you with the opportunity to learn intriguing insights into staff recruitment from countries outside the EU from the perspective of an expert with extensive experience in the field of #humanresources.

As part of our “Voice of HR” rubric, we had the pleasure of speaking with George Parvanov , Managing Director of the #HR company CTeam. ??

?? Read the interview below and find out what he shared with us. ??

1.?????? What types of employment does Bulgaria currently offer to foreign citizens?

? The first type is seasonal #employment, which typically lasts up to three months and mainly concerns the tourism industry. A large number of workers from Turkey, Ukraine and other countries enter Bulgaria for this purpose.

? The second type of employment is popularly known as the 'blue card'. These are highly qualified professionals, mainly IT specialists, for whom a special regime has been adopted, but unfortunately, there has been a decline in demand for these professionals – in recent years, around 1000 such visas have been issued.

? The third type of visa is the subject of our discussion today, and, in my opinion, it is of primary interest. It involves longer-term employment, allowing individuals from outside the #EU to work in our country for up to 3 years. The number of permits issued nearly tripled last year to over 15,000, and this year an even more significant increase to around 20-25,000 is expected.

2.?????? Why are Bulgarian companies increasingly considering the possibility of staff recruitment from abroad, especially from countries outside the EU?

The main problem is the personnel shortage, estimated at around 200-250 thousand unfilled positions in recent years.?? This number is quite high for Bulgaria, representing about 10% of our #workforce, and unfortunately cannot be filled by the available resources within the country. Despite having between 130 and 150 thousand registered #unemployed individuals in #Bulgaria, the skills and willingness to work of these people are not compatible with the requirements of businesses.

The import of employees also reflects the serious demographic crisis in the country, which is expected to lead to a decrease in the population to 5 million in the next decade, according to estimates.?? However, the need for Bulgarian businesses is immediate, and currently, there is primarily a demand for low-skilled workers such as operators, welders, warehouse workers, and similar positions. I expect that over time, workers at medium levels, experts, and even higher-skilled employees will start to be imported, including in sectors such as healthcare.

3.?????? In which industries is this practice most popular now, and what type of workforce do companies from these countries bring in?

Currently, staff recruitment is primarily widespread in the manufacturing sector, warehouses, hospitality, and trade. At this point, the employees mainly work in warehouses and back-office spaces, but I expect them to soon start serving customers, for example, in large retail chains and establishments. ?

4.?????? What are the main advantages for companies hiring employees from countries outside the EU?

Firstly, I would like to address the myth that Bulgarian #employers hire these workers because they are cheaper labor. In fact, the legislation prohibits them from having different pay and benefits. With the 3-year visa they receive, they gain a status equal to that of Bulgarian employees. Bulgarian employers recruit them because of staff shortages.

The first advantage is that there is tremendous interest in Bulgaria from potential employees whom businesses need. The second major advantage is that they are hardworking, unpretentious, do not seek entertainment, and show initiative to work overtime and even on holidays. It is important for them to have a fair employer, promises to be fulfilled, and the opportunity to send money to support their families. Our most positive experience is with employees from countries in the Middle East, such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. They are loyal and eager to learn Bulgarian and integrate into the company where they work.

Read the ?? full interview here to learn what challenges companies face when bringing in staff from outside the EU and what the process is for an employer to go through.