The preparation of a national dual training project is launched. This decision was supported by the National Economic Council. The consultative body, in which all employers’ organisations participate, held a meeting today on the initiative of Minister Nikola Stojanov. Among the main topics discussed were the shortage of staff and the improvement of their qualifications, the competitiveness of Bulgarian companies and the government’s measures to curb inflationary processes.
The aim of developing a national project for dual training is to take measures at state level for a wider implementation of this form of training, which in the long term will help to solve the problems with the lack of workforce and qualified personnel.
‘We are discussing all state-owned enterprises to effectively advocate dual training as an additional incentive for its promotion throughout the country,’ Minister Nikola Stojanov explained. In his words, several smaller projects in this area are already being implemented in Bulgaria, but there is a need for coordinated action at national level to present the dual form of training to students and their parents. ‘Our goal is to work with the Ministry of Education and Science and employers’ organisations to prepare a comprehensive concept of how this can be implemented in practice within a month or so. Then we will hope for your active support and for the real launch across the country,’ said the Minister of Economy. The employers’ organisations expressed support for the decision and stressed that this was a long-awaited measure at national level.
The Ministry of Education and Science pointed out that one of the problems related to the qualification of personnel is the limited interest in vocational schools by prospective high school students. In this regard, coordinated actions with employers’ organisations were discussed to promote career opportunities in different professions.
During the meeting, the current legislation regulating access to the labour market for third-country nationals was also discussed. Employers raised the issue of easing some of the administrative procedures and removing some of the restrictions that currently exist. ‘We will work in the direction of easing the regime for foreign workers in Bulgaria, as well as for better information about the specific needs of workers, because at the moment there is no single electronic portal to provide such information,’ Nikola Stojanov further said.
The National Economic Council also discussed the government’s measures to reduce inflation, as well as the necessary changes in the legislation for a lighter regime for opening bank accounts in Bulgaria for companies from abroad that want to operate on the Bulgarian market. Legislation in other European countries is also to be reviewed and concrete proposals are to be developed.
This is the first meeting of the Council after a break of nearly one and a half years. During meetings with employers’ organisations, Minister Stojanov committed to restore the activity of this important advisory body. Today’s meeting was attended by representatives of all relevant ministries and employers’ organisations in the country.