Social partners call for improvements to migration policy

The impact of recent migration policies on the labour market and proposals for their reform have been widely debated over the past few months. The social partners have largely supported government attempts to develop a more comprehensive migration policy and have established a tripartite working group to prepare guidelines for a new Bulgarian migration policy. Despite their support, the trade unions and employers highlight areas for improvement in relation to the country’s migration policy.

Current situation

Since Bulgaria’s accession to the EU on 1 January 2007, the government has made attempts to develop a more comprehensive migration policy. In mid 2007, a tripartite working group consisting of representatives of the social partners, several ministries and certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was established. Headed by the Minister of the Interior, Ivaylo Kalfin, the group was given the task of developing a framework for future migration policy. The draft guidelines (in Bulgarian, 1.1Mb MS Word doc) proposed by the group have been widely discussed with the social partners and were published on the government’s website for public discussion during the months of September and October 2007. The adopted guidelines outline the current migration situation and the main strategic policy.

Bulgaria’s current migration situation shows characteristics similar to those of the earlier EU accession countries in southern Europe, where migration became more prevalent than emigration following accession. According to official statistics, in the period 1987–2007, about 750,000 Bulgarians emigrated. Some estimates show that the emigration flow was higher, amounting to about 1.2–1.5 million people or over 20% of the active working age population. However, in recent years, a declining trend has emerged in relation to the number of Bulgarians intending to emigrate and emigrants’ profile has begun to change, as shown by the results of a survey conducted by the private Agency for Social Surveys and Analyses (Aгенция за социални проучвания и анализи, ASSA-M) in June 2007.

While in previous years, Bulgaria was mainly a transit country for emigrants and asylum seekers, it is increasingly becoming a destination country following its accession to the EU. The findings show a stable increase, albeit not very large, in the number of migrants coming from other EU Member States and developing countries to Bulgaria.

Policy goals

Members of the working group agreed that Bulgarian migration policy must follow the national interests and consider the country’s commitments in terms of its EU membership.

The migration policy guidelines recommend the following strategic goals:

• effective management of migration flows and controls ensuring regulated migration;

• promotion of the right of free movement for Bulgarian and other EU citizens;

• immigrants’ integration in line with the common EU migration policy principles and other relevant international standards;

• a comprehensive policy mix aimed at reducing emigration, especially of young people, and at encouraging the qualitative immigration flows necessary for the economy – including, in particular, foreign citizens of Bulgarian origin;

• prevention and combating of illegal migration;

• development and integration of a long-term national strategy on migration, with the participation of all stakeholders.

Moreover, the proposed establishment of the Coordinating Council on Migration – comprising government, social partner and NGO representatives – is seen as a necessary step towards developing a more comprehensive and transparent migration policy.

Response of social partners

While the social partners have given their support to the recent government migration policy, they also emphasised the need for considerable improvement.

Trade unions and employers differ in their concerns and focus regarding the steps that need to be taken to improve migration policy. While labour and skills shortages are among the top concerns of the employer organisations (BG0707039I), the trade unions are more likely to focus on the need to promote migrant workers’ rights and integration. The employers also highlight the need to ensure sufficient ease in importing and hiring foreign labour and to liberalise labour legislation.

Trade unions have already taken action to help secure faster integration of Bulgarians working abroad and immigrants residing in the country. The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (Конфедерация на независимите синдикати в България, CITUB), in cooperation with Spanish trade unions, have established an information centre for Bulgarians who are willing to work in Spain (BG0612019I). Steps for the mutual recognition of trade union membership have also been undertaken.

The government is committed to following mainstream EU migration policy and to concentrating its efforts on improving the country’s employment (BG0709029I) and pay conditions (BG0706059I), with a view to increasing job opportunities and encouraging the return of emigrants. Moreover, it will continue its practice of appointing employment ambassadors already sent to some Bulgarian embassies to assist Bulgarian nationals. New measures will also be undertaken to help open the labour market to foreign workers and to ensure better integration of immigrants.

Commentary

While not endangering the EU labour market, the recent migration situation in the country poses certain risks to the Bulgarian labour market due to the high level of migration and ‘brain drain’ in the transition years, along with the severe demographic crisis. Joint efforts between the government and social partners are needed to address the emerging labour market challenges. Nonetheless, the consensus reached on the new migration policy priorities is a promising step in this direction.

Nadezhda Daskalova, Institute for Social and Trade Union Research (ISTUR) of CITUB