COVID-19: New state aid will be available to the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
On October 15, 2020 the Managing authority of Operational Program Innovation and competitiveness announced the start of public consultation of the procedure for the selection of projects Adapting the business activity of SMEs in the context of COVID-19. The procedure aims to support the SMEs to reorganise and adapt workplaces and/or changes in the business processes and […]
COVID-19: Increase of the minimum daily allowance of unemployment benefits until the end of 2020
On 29 September 2020 the Bill amending the Public Social Insurance Budget Act for 2020 was promulgated at the Official Gazette No 84. It increases the amount and the duration period of the unemployment benefits, effective as 1 October 2020 as a part of the social-economic measures package of the Bulgarian government to mitigate the […]
COVID-19: New measures in support of the business
New state aid will be available to the small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of tourism and bus transport to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 crisis. In the middle of September 2020, the Managing authority of Operational Program “Innovation and competitiveness” (OPIC) announced the start of the application campaign for proposals of projects in support of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) carrying out their business activity in the field of tourism and coach and bus services. The two grant procedures are expected to open for applicants within the coming weeks. In particular, the grants will […]
COVID-19: Triggering the force majeure clause after the end of the state of emergency in Bulgaria
This article is a follow-up to our publication from 20 March 2020 “COVID-19: Terms and conditions to invoke force majeure”. In the following lines we will clarify to what extent the end of the state of emergency and the changes in the legislation introduced by the Law for amendment and supplement of the Health Act […]
COVID-19 Bulgaria: The 60/40 compensation scheme is revised to support further employers
To support employers during the state of emergency declared on 13 March 2002, the Bulgarian Parliament enacted the Emergency Measures and Actions Act later in March, providing for option to finance 60% of the employees’ insurance income for January 2020 for up to three months through the National Social Security Institute. A subsequent revision of […]
Employment law during the state of emergency declared because of COVID-19
On 24 March 2020, the Emergency Measures and Actions Act during the state of emergency announced by a decision of the National Assembly of 13 March 2020 was promulgated (the “State of Emergency Act”). The Act introduces measures and actions during the state of emergency, as well as changes in numerous other acts. This article […]
COVID-19: Terms and conditions to invoke force majeure
If you are entrepreneur or manager, navigating your company through the COVID-19 challenge, you probably are considering whether and how you can invoke the force majeure clause in your contracts if in the coming weeks or months your company defaults on its obligations towards clients and partners because of the COVID-19 restrictions. In brief, here […]
Bulgaria in formal state of emergency for one month from 13 March to 13 April 2020
On 13 March 2020 the Bulgarian Parliament proclaimed state of emergency for a period of one month in response to the expanding COVID-19 epidemic in the country. By doing so it empowers the government to act faster in mitigating the risk of overload of the healthcare system by waiving certain coordination procedures. The government is […]
Increase of the minimum wage and social security income for 2020
Salaries for January 2020 should correspond with the increased amount of the minimum monthly salary, determined by the Decree of the Council of Ministers No350 of 19.12.2019, amounting to 610 BGN for a normal working time of 8 hours per 5-day work week. The minimum monthly salary is the basic salary and its amount is […]
The role of advocacy for rule of law in democratic society
Georgi G. Popov, the Managing Partner of Georgi Popov & Co., participated in the international conference on the role of advocacy for rule of law in democratic society, held in Sofia on the 21-22 November 2019 by the Sofia Bar Council together with the Bulgarian Supreme Bar Council and the Rule of Law Institute of […]
