International Conference “Labour Market Integration of Migrants”

During the International Conference “Labour Market Integration of Migrants” in Sofia, Tsvetan Simeonov emphasized the possibilities for cooperation that the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry can provide for the integration of migrants into the labor market. The Chamber has an expanded regional structure (28 regional chambers), with vocational training centers in several regions of the country and translation services. The President of BCCI stressed that cooperation with the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES) and the experience of the German Chambers in this field is also very important. He noted that the linguistic integration of migrants comes first, and then their professional qualification.

Tsvetan Simeonov was categorical that the issue of migrants concerns everyone in the EU, but there are different dimensions in the different countries. He explained that for Bulgaria the problem with migrants is not so acute at the moment. According to him, the main groups of migrants are from the places with military-political conflicts. They have very low or no qualifications.

BCCI supports the idea that to a certain degree the migrants provide an opportunity to relieve tensions in the labour market ensuing from the lack of labour force.

The President of the Chamber said that Bulgaria needs highly qualified migrant specialists to integrate into the labour market, but achieving such a goal is very difficult. He expressed hope that new serious conflicts would not occur and that such migrant waves would not continue.

Well-managed migration could contribute to both the economic growth and development of the state and the well-being of the workers themselves. Bulgaria has a National Migration Strategy whose main objective is to integrate the citizens of third countries successfully in the Bulgarian society and to use their potential.

BCCI and the State Agency for Refugees exchange information on the employment of those granted international protection in Bulgaria.