Bulgaria Registers Slight Drop in Unemployment

Bulgaria saw a small drop in the numbers of registered unemployed in the opening days of march, according to Labor Minister Totyu Mladenov. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's unemployment figures have dropped slightly, for the first time in 15 months.

Totyu Mladenov, Minister of Labor and Social Policy, said in an interview on Darik Radio that 280 fewer people had registered at unemployment bureaux during the first few days of March.

He stated that the jobless rates for January was 9,9%. In February it rose to 10,27%, and is expected to increase to 10,6% in March.

Mladenov reiterated his forecast that the average unemployment rate for 2010 will be 11,4%. There were, however, signs of a stabilization of the labor market, and the Minister observed that requests by companies for mass lay-offs have fallen by a factor of three.

Changes in legislation to tackle the problem of "phantom employers", when there is no one to terminate the contracts of workers, is underway, according to the minister.

Mladenov also commented on the efforts his Ministry is making on the efficient and proper absorption of EU funding under the operational programs.

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