Companies and natural persons who wish to carry out employment mediation must first register with the register of the Employment Agency. A condition for this is that they have a suitable material and technical base – a separate room in which clients can be served, office furniture, a computer and copying equipment, a telephone and other necessary means of work.

It is important to know that all mediation services are provided entirely free of charge to persons seeking work, as well as to workers or employees who are already engaged. The mediator has no right, in any form – whether directly, indirectly or in part – to collect fees or other payments from them. It is also prohibited to conclude arrangements with the employer under which the remuneration for the mediation is to be withheld from, or borne by, the salary of the person placed in work.

With a view to more robust protection of job seekers, the legislation introduces detailed rules regarding the content of mediation contracts, as well as regarding the minimum information that the mediator must provide to job applicants, and other related requirements.

Documents required

In order to be registered as an employment mediator, the following documents must be attached to the application:

  • A list of particulars of the natural person or of the manager of the legal entity, as well as of the employees who will carry out employment mediation activity. For each person, the following are recorded: the Unified Civil Number (ЕГН), and the number, date and issuer of the diploma for education obtained in Bulgaria, or the number, date and issuer of the document recognising education completed abroad – this is required only where the diplomas for higher education were issued after 1 January 2012, and those for secondary education – after 1 January 2007;

  • A copy of the diploma for completed secondary or higher education of the company's manager, or of the natural person applying for registration as a mediator – provided only if the persons completed secondary education before 1 January 2007 or higher education before 1 January 2012 at Bulgarian educational institutions;

  • A copy of the document for completed secondary or higher education of the engaged persons (employees) who will carry out employment mediation activity – required only if such persons are specified in the application for registration and if they completed secondary education before 1 January 2007 or higher education before 1 January 2012;

  • A copy of a document certifying at least 3 years of professional experience in the field of maritime transport of the company's manager or of the natural person who wishes to be registered as a mediator – this applies only where registration is sought for mediation in the employment of seafarers;

  • A copy of a document certifying at least 3 years of professional experience in the field of maritime transport of the engaged persons (employees) who will carry out mediation activity – submitted only if such persons are specified in the application for registration and if the matter concerns mediation for the employment of seafarers;

  • A power of attorney, where the documents are submitted through an attorney-in-fact. In cases where the documents are submitted by an attorney, the power of attorney is not required to be notarially certified.

For the registration as mediators of foreign persons incorporated under the legislation of another EU Member State, of a State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or of the Swiss Confederation, and who are established on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, additional documents provided for in the regulatory framework are also submitted.

IMPORTANT!!! The application and all documents for registration as an employment mediator are submitted solely by electronic means through the Unified Electronic Centralised Register of Natural and Legal Persons Carrying Out Mediation Activity and/or Providing Temporary Work.

Documents on paper are NOT accepted.

Registration procedure

The submitted application, together with the documents attached to it, is examined within a period of 14 days from the date of their receipt. If it is established that the documents do not meet the regulatory requirements or contain omissions and inaccuracies, the applicant is sent a notification for their rectification. The period for corrections is also 14 days.

The officials who carry out the check establish ex officio whether the applicants meet the following conditions:

  • that they have no monetary liabilities to the State or the municipalities established by an effective act of a competent authority, except in cases of authorised rescheduling or deferral of these liabilities, and that they have no outstanding monetary liabilities relating to the payment of social insurance contributions;

  • that they have not been declared insolvent;

  • that they are not in liquidation proceedings;

  • that they have not been subjected to administrative penalties under the Employment Promotion Act during the three years preceding the date of application for registration;

  • the members of the management and/or supervisory bodies of the legal entities:

    • are not persons who have been subjected to penalties under the Employment Promotion Act during the three years before the date of submission of the application;

    • have not participated as members of management and/or supervisory bodies in legal entities that have been subjected to penalties under the Employment Promotion Act during the same three-year period.

For each application submitted for the registration of a company wishing to carry out employment mediation activity, the Employment Agency sends a letter to the General Labour Inspectorate requesting information on any effective penal decrees against the applicant.

If, during the check, it is established that the applicant does not meet any of the prescribed requirements, a refusal of entry in the Unified Electronic Centralised Register is issued.

It should be borne in mind that all communications and correspondence with the applicant for registration as a mediator are carried out solely by electronic means.

State fees

The State fee is due after the completion of the check of the documents. The applicant is sent a letter specifying the amount of the fee and the bank account to which it should be transferred. A copy of the payment order is attached to the applicant's profile in the Unified Electronic Centralised Register of Natural and Legal Persons Carrying Out Mediation Activity and/or Providing Temporary Work.

The State fees are:

  • BGN 802 – for the issuance of a certificate of registration for carrying out mediation activity on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;

  • BGN 875 – for the issuance of a certificate of registration for carrying out mediation activity for other countries;

  • BGN 875 – for the issuance of a certificate for mediation activity in the employment of seafarers.

The certificate of registration for carrying out mediation activity is of unlimited duration. It is issued as an electronic document and must be placed in a prominent location in the mediator's office.

If you require legal advice and assistance for registration to carry out mediation activity or a temporary work agency, please contact us on telephone: 0887550706 or by e-mail: [email protected]