Central
In December 2018, the National Assembly passed a new Persons with Disabilities Act (Закон за хората с увреждания). As the Bulgarian News Agency suggests, an important new element is an 'individual approach and a comprehensive individual assessment of disabled people's needs'. As from January 1, 2021, the Agency for Social Assistance (ASA) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy will be transformed into a state agency and will pass under the jurisdiction of the Council of Ministers. The Act supersedes the 2004 Integration of Persons with Disabilities Act. The new Persons with Disabilities Act provides for the creation of District Councils, which would assist and support the District Governors in the implementation, analysis and development of strategies, plans, measures and other activities related to the implementation of disability policy at the district level. According to Article 62, the District Governors carry out the state policy for people with disabilities on a territorial level with responsibility for the accessibility of the architectural environment, including the state-owned buildings and facilities.
On the 18th October 2018, the National Assembly passed the Social
and Solidarity-based Enterprises Act. As the official translation of the Act states, it aims to 'promote the development of a social and solidarity economy as a branch of the economy with special rules for':
- improvement of access to employment and training to acquire or improve professional qualification aimed to raise the living standard of the persons referred to in Item 4 of Article 7;
- the creation of conditions for support of the social inclusion and independent lifestyle of the persons pursuant to Item 4 of Article 7;
- reduction of social inequality and sustainable territorial development.
Chapter Four sets out the Promotion of Social and Solidarity-Based Economy, which includes Article 13:
'(1) Local self-government authorities may assist the subjects of social and solidarity-based economy in their activity by:
1. encouraging the development of human resources in the field of social and solidarity-based economy by ensuring access to the electronic platform pursuant to Item 2 of Article 12;
2. developing mechanisms and programmes in support of social and solidarity-based economy by inclusion of measures in statutory instruments related to the development of the municipality;
3. participating in the activities of the social and solidarity-based economy through various forms of cooperation.
(2) The manner in which local self-government authorities may assist the subjects of social and solidarity-based economy shall be determined by a decision of the municipal council.'
The central government is responsible for:
- Sustaining and promoting of employment;
- Increasing personal incomes and improving living standards;
- Stable contemporary social insurance system;
- Modernising the social assistance system- assistance to disadvantaged people, fight against social exclusion and further development of social services, and
- Maintaining and enhancing social dialogue.
Welfare funds for the elderly, maternity, childcare, unemployment, occupational disease, employment injury and death.
Regional
District authorities are responsible for:
- The cooperation with the State on social policy topics,
- The implementation of programmes and projects.
- According to the 2018 Persons with Disabilities Act, District Councils assist District Governors in the implementation of disability policy at a district level.
Local
Municipal authorities are responsible for:
Implementing some of the European Social Fund (ESF) projects, and
Orphans and children in care in local hospices. (New competences received with respect to the "deinstitutionalisation").
According to the 2018 Social and Solidarity-Based Enterprises Act, Local authorities can contribute to the social and solidarity-based economy through the Municipal Councils. They shall ensure access to the electronic platform, develop mechanisms and support programmes, and participate in cooperation activities.
Responsible ministries/bodies
Ministry of Labour and Social
Policy
Sources
Action Plan to implement the National Social Economy Concept in the period 2018-2019
Bulgarian Welfare System, MPRA, 1989-2014
Zakon za horata s uvrejdaniq (BG) [Persons with Disabilities Act], last amended 24.03.2020
Zakon za predpriqta na socialna i solidarna politica (BG)[Social and Solidarity-based Enterprises Act], last amended 25.02.2020
Kodeks za socialno osiguriavane (BG) [Social Insurance Code], last amended 24.03.2020
Zakon za socialnoto podpomagane (BG) [Social Assistance Act], last amended 30.04.2019
Zakon za zashtita ot discriminaciq (BG) [Protection from Discrimination Act], last amended 19.01.2019
