Almost ¼ of the established cases of work without an employment contract are in the hotel and restaurant industry, according to data from the control activity of the Executive Agency “Main Labor Inspectorate” (IA GIT). For the period January - July 2024, the control bodies of the Agency have established 451 people working without an employment contract in both economic activities, which is 24% of all 1914 cases.
Due to the risk of using undeclared labor in all its forms – from the creation of employment relationships through the payment of labor, working hours, vacations, etc., the labor inspectorate carries out year-round control in these activities. During the active tourist season, inspection campaigns are also organized in the summer and winter resorts.
For the seven months of 2024, 3,713 items were carried out in the hotel and restaurant industry. inspections, during which 18,372 items were found. violations. Of these, 10,503 are related to the implementation of labor relations, and with health and safety working conditions – 7658 pcs.
The labor inspectorate uses the occasion to remind that the written employment contract with clearly stated terms of work and pay in it protects the rights of the workers to the fullest extent. The salary agreed in writing is important for the insurance income, on which benefits are calculated in case of temporary incapacity for work, maternity, unemployment, and in the long term, the pension.
Working without an employment contract is not an insignificant violation according to the Bulgarian labor legislation, and in any established case, the control bodies of the Labor Inspection necessarily impose a sanction of BGN 1,500 to BGN 15,000. These violations are grounds for removing the employer from participation in procedures for public procurement. Every worker or employee can check with a personal identification code (PIK) issued by the National Revenue Agency, whether his employment contract is registered and what is the real income on which the employer provides him.