as at 31.03.2020

In response to the COVID-19 spread in Bulgaria the National Assembly announced state of emergency as from 13 March 2020 (the “State of Emergency”).

As part of the measures and interventions, incorporated in the new Law on the Measures and Actions during State of Emergency, Announced with a Decision of the National Assembly on 13 March 2020, the Bulgarian Government just finalized the terms and conditions for financial compensation of the Bulgarian employers during the State of Emergency*. Below is a short summary of the criteria and the terms and conditions for receiving the so-called “60/40 Compensation”.

NB: Please note that it is expected these rules to enter into force retroactively as from the first date of the State of Emergency – 13.03.2020.

_{^* Decree No. 55 dated 30.03.2020 of the Council of Ministers for Stipulating the Terms and Conditions for Payment of Compensation to Employers for the Purposes of Keeping the Occupation of the Employee during the State of Emergency Announced with Decision of the National Assembly on 13.03.2020}

► ELIGIBILITY

The types of businesses eligible for the compensation are divided in two main categories:

1. Directly Affected Employers

This means employers who issued an order for stoppage of work of the entire enterprise or part of it as a direct result of the measures imposed by the state during the State of Emergency.

The list of these businesses is attached herein and is exhaustive. It is based on the economic activity of the employer as registered and declared before the authorities.

NB: Your accountants may confirm under which code of activity your business is registered.

In order these employers to receive the compensation, they should meet the following criteria:

• have issued a formal order for stoppage of the work of the entire enterprise (e.g. a restaurant) or part of it (e.g. only shops which are located in shopping malls) due to the State of Emergency measures imposed;
• is local physical or legal entity or a foreign legal entity having business activity in Bulgaria;
• apply for compensations only for employees insured for the economical activities under Attachment 1 (in case the employer process few different activities);
• have no outstanding state or local tax or social security obligations under Art. 162, Para 2, Item 1 of the Tax and Social Security Procedural Code (except for such divided in instalments, postponed or secured);
• are not declared insolvent or are not in liquidation or insolvency proceeding;
• keep the employment of the employees for which the company received compensation at least for a period equal to the period of receiving compensation;
• do not terminate any employment contracts due to partial closure of the enterprise, staff reduction, decrease of the volume of work or stoppage of the work for more than 15 working days; and
• have no violations of Art. Art. 61, Para 1, Art. 62, Para 1 or 3, Art. 63, Para 1 or 2, Art. 118, Art. 128, Art. 228, Para 3, Art. 245 and Art. 301 - 305 of the Labor Code or Art. 13, Para 1 of the Labor Migration and Labor Mobility Act within 6 months prior to the issuance of the order for stoppage of the work (as established by a penal decree entered into force or court decision).

2. Other Employers
Any other employers may apply for compensation, if they have issued an order for:

• stoppage of the work based on their own decision not due to the measures during the State of Emergency (on the grounds of the new Art. 120в, Para 1 of the Labour Code) or
• Imposing part time work of all or part of the employees due to the State of Emergency (on the grounds of the new Art. 138a, Para 2 of the LC).

and

meet the following criteria:

• do not have economic activity in sector A, K, O, P, Q, T and U under the Classification of the Economic Activities (in Bulgarian: КИД-2008);

NB: Your accountants may confirm under which sector your activities are announced before the authorities.

• comply with all of the criteria under Item 1 (iv)-(viii) above;

and

• have declared (and may prove) minimum 20% decrease of the income from sales for the month preceding the submission of the application for compensation compared to:
  • the same month of 2019 – for companies established before 1st of March 2019; and
  • the average income for January and February 2020 – for companies established after 1st of March 2019.

► THE 60/40 COMPENSATION ITSELF

This represents a temporary compensation – for the period of the State of Emergency but for not more than three months.

The compensation is paid by the state to the applying employer for the purposes of keeping occupation of the employees.

The total due employment remuneration and all due social security instalments are to be paid by the employer to the employees (no payment from the state to the employees is made).

If any of the circumstances declared or proved for the purposes of the compensation is not true, the compensation is to be paid back.

If the employer does not pay the rest of the total due remuneration, the compensation is to be paid back.

► COMPENSATION IS NOT PAID FOR EMPLOYEES

• Employed after 13.03.2020;
• Using sick leave, maternity or parental leave;
• For which the employer receives financing for remuneration and social security from the state budget, European funds or other public funds.

► AMOUNT OF THE COMPENSATION

The compensation is in the amount of 60% of the declared social security income for January 2020 for each employee falling within the applicable criteria. This means that the compensation is capped to 60% of the maximum social security threshold of BGN 3,000. Thus, if an employee receives higher salary, the compensation will not cover 60% of it in total and the employer still owes the total agreed remuneration.

In case of part-time work imposed, the amount of the compensation is payable pro-rata the not-worked time but for not more than four hours.

Further, Decree No. 55/30.03.2020 of the Council of Ministers lists all rules for determination of the social security income for January 2020 in case of absence during this month.

► PROCEDURE

The information for the order, terms, documents, templates and applicable procedure for applying for compensation is available on the web page of the Employment Agency.

NB: For now, the Labour Office Directorates will accept applications until 21.04.2020.

LIST OF ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE STATE OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
(unofficial translation from Bulgarian language)

*With working place in shopping center.

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For more information please contact:
Anelia Dinova – Managing Partner Anelia.Dinova@drp-legal.com 

Vesela Kabatliyska – Partner Vesela.Kabatliyska@drp-legal.com

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