Labor shortage in tourism – the state takes concrete steps to support the sector

The interdepartmental group set up on the initiative of Minister Borshosh will present a two-part package of measures for discussion with the trade unions by the end of May

Deputy Minister of Tourism Pavlin Petrov took part in the national discussion "Access to the labor market for workers from third countries – challenges and solutions," organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Tourism Board. The Ministry of Tourism is one of the main partners of the event, which brought together representatives of business and institutions to discuss the need for labor and the challenges facing labour migration in Bulgaria.

The forum discussed specific measures to facilitate the procedures for hiring foreign workers, including legislative changes, digitization of processes, and improved coordination between institutions. Participants agreed on the need for a comprehensive labour migration strategy that meets the real needs of business and the economy.

Deputy Minister Petrov emphasized that the tourism sector is among those most affected by the shortage of skilled labor and that the Ministry actively supports efforts to improve the procedures for hiring foreign employees. "We are working on sustainable solutions that will both meet the needs of businesses and guarantee the quality of tourism services in Bulgaria," said Pavlin Petrov. He added that for tourism as a dynamic and seasonal industry, it is crucial to create an effective, predictable, and digitized labour mobility system.

Deputy Minister Petrov recalled that, on the initiative of Minister Miroslav Borshosh, an interdepartmental working group on visas for third-country workers was set up under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Grozdan Karadzhov. The Deputy Prime Minister presented the activities of the interdepartmental working group on the recruitment of workers from third countries, in which the Ministry of Tourism is actively involved. The issue is important for all sectors of the economy, but it particularly affects the tourism sector given the seasonal workers needed to ensure the tourist season. Karadzhov pointed out that the measures fall into two categories—administrative and legislative—and announced that by the end of the month, the measures will be finalized in a document that will be discussed with trade union representatives and is expected to be adopted in mid- or late June.

The discussion is institutionally supported by the Ministry of Tourism and is organized within the framework of the European project Recruit4Tomorrow, which aims to promote the employment of third-country nationals through social dialogue and includes partners from Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Hungary.