Bulgaria's National Assembly opens the labour market for foreigners through the so-called "blue card"

MPs on January 19 adopted at second reading amendments to the Law on Labour Migration and Labour Mobility. The amendments will facilitate access to the labour market in the country for non-EU citizens and the issuance of the so-called blue card.

We are opening up the labour market to low-skilled or high-skilled workers - that was the main argument in Parliament. The requirement for a document for 5 years' experience at a level comparable to higher education did not meet with the approval of the 'Vazrazhdane”' and 'BSP for Bulgaria'.

"Why don't we introduce a term of 5 years of work – and GPs can become abdominal surgeons", Petar Petrov of "Vazrazhdane" said ironically.

"It's as if we are saying to our children: 'There is no point in studying, get some sort of a job for 5 years'," Georgi Gyokov from BSP for Bulgaria supported him.

"The requirements for higher education are not cancelled. There is only talk about how it will be recognised that someone has a high degree of professional qualification", Denitsa Sacheva from GERB-UDF explained.

The proposal that the gross salary of third-country workers should be at least 1.3 times higher than the national average has sparked a new debate.

"Look at the salaries in the IT sector - very high. If wages are reduced, these specialists will have to work elsewhere. The IT sector work remotely. Bulgarian IT specialists work for foreign companies," said Stoyan Kambarev from "We Continue the Change".

"The average salary in the IT sector is around 5,000 BGN. You create conditions for these people to leave. This looks to me like a lobby law of a company like Nexo. That's why you need thousands of workers from Nexo's branches," said Georgi Georgiev from "Vazrazhdane".

"We are also opening a door for employees in the IT sector, I remind you of the case of Nexo," said Galen Monev of Bulgaria Ascending.

"Democratic Bulgaria" pointed out that the business needs more than 11 000 professionals.

"Information technology companies are also experiencing a serious shortage. 40,000 and 50,000 people can find jobs as IT specialists," said Nadezhda Yordanova of Democratic Bulgaria.

"This bill will help the sector to meet its current need for the next 10 years," Iskren Mitev of “We Continue the Change” pointed out.

"We will not support this bill because it is a threat to national security," said Mario Rangelov of the MRF.

A statement by independent MP Yavor Bozhankov caused tension.

"Instead of getting excited for the VHS tapes, 'Vazrazhdane” got excited about the IT sector," he said.

"When people with a mental subordination problem speak here, you, Mr.Speaker, are tolerant," said Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of "Vazrazhdane".

"When someone has no arguments, he engages in personal insults," commented Nikolay Denkov of "We Continue the Change".

"Every time they open their mouths they give the opportunity to see what is in their heads," added Alexander Simidchiev of “Democratic Bulgaria”.

In the end, with the votes of GERB-UDF, “We Continue the Change”, Democratic Bulgaria and the independent MP Bozhankov, the amendments to the law were passed.