Bulgaria: Definition of collective dismissal

Bulgaria flag
Phase
Labour Code
Native name
Кодекс на труда
Type
Definition of collective dismissal
Added to database
08 May 2015

Article

Item 1 of §1, p. 9 of the Supplementary Provisions of the Labour Code

Description

A collective redundancy refers to:

  • at least 10 dismissals within 30 days or at least 20 dismissals within 90 days in companies with 20-99 employees.
  • In companies employing between 100 and 299 employees, a collective redundancy refers to 10% of the workforce (within 30 days);
  • in those with 300 or more employees, the figure is 30 dismissals (within 30 days).

Employers can justify redundancies on the grounds of a reduction in business activity or plant or branch closure.

Commentary

The employer is obliged, before undertaking collective dismissal, to start consultations with employees' representatives. Besides consultations with trade unions, the employer is required to provide written information to employees with specified content on planned mass redundancies including:

  • the reasons for the planned redundancies,
  • the number of employees who will be laid off,
  • basic economic activities,
  • qualification groups and professions to which the dismissal corresponds.

Employer is also obliged to inform in written the National Employment Agency.

Additional metadata

Cost covered by
None
Involved actors other than national government
Public employment service Trade union Works council
Involvement (others)
None
Thresholds
Affected employees: 10
Company size: 20
Additional information: No, applicable in all circumstances

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2015), Bulgaria: Definition of collective dismissal, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/definition-of-collective-dismissal/bulgaria