Over 100 Ukrainian refugees have started work under the "Solidarity" Programme in Varna

More than 100 Ukrainian refugees have started working under the “Solidarity” programme in Bulgaria’s coastal city of Varna and the region since 6 June. This is according to the data of the Labour Office in the city. The programme is funded by EU funds and is aimed only at Ukrainian refugees. The jobs on offer are in the tourism sector, with employers showing strong interest in hiring Ukrainians until the end of the season. A large group of refugees work in one of the large resorts in Kranevo and they consider this a good opportunity for them, although not all of them have experience.

The complex, run by Adrian Evtimov, is open all year round. Currently, 40 Ukrainian refugees employed under the Solidarity programme work here.

In addition to working and receiving a salary, they are housed and receive three meals a day, mainly employed as assistant waiters, as maids and as reception assistants.

In Varna, 37 employers have signed a contract with the Labour Office under the Solidarity programme, some of the Ukrainians recruited already have experience in tourism.

Since the beginning of the crisis, the Labour Office in Varna has counselled nearly 6000 Ukrainian citizens. There is also interest in the Solidarity programme, but few have actually started work.
At the moment, we have 113 people employed and 674 contracts signed, so we are looking. Ukrainian citizens do not want to change their profession", said Filcho Filev, Director of the Directorate of the Labour Office - Varna.

A total of 450 Ukrainians in Varna have already been referred to various jobs. Some of them have made a serious career turn. Elizaveta, who is a future prosecutor or investigator, and Irina, until recently a sports teacher and economist, are now working in Kranevo under the Solidarity programme.

"I am an administrator and my main job is communication with the guests. Now I am learning Bulgarian, if the situation in Ukraine does not change, I will probably stay in Bulgaria," said Elizaveta.

"I am a bartender and waiter here, which is new and unusual for me. But I like communicating with people," said Irina Kirsanova.

Since the start of the programme in June, there have been no reports of problems from those who have started work or from employers.