Country profile BGR
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 1986-03-24 ; 2006-11-09 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Article 304 ; Ordinance No. 6 of 24 July 2006 on the Conditions and Procedures for Granting Work Permits for Persons Under 18 Years of Age - Annex to Article 8 | [{"link_name":"- Labour Code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/61136/BGR-61136%20(EN).pdf"},{"link_name":"- Ordinance No. 6 of 24 July 2006","source_link":"https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2135533303"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Article 304 of the Labour Code (Amended - SG No. 100 of 1992, amended - SG No. 25 of 2001, in force from 31.03.2001) describes what type of work should not be performed by persons under 18. A non-exhaustive list of work prohibited for persons under the age of 18 is contained in the Annex to Article 8, para. 2 of Ordinance No. 6 of 24 July 2006 on the Conditions and Procedures for Granting Work Permits for Persons Under 18 Years of Age. Section I of the list in the Annex specifies work carried out under the influence of physical, chemical, and biological agents, while Section II of the list in the Annex specifies processes and types of work covered by the prohibition under Art. 304 of the Labour Code. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1986-03-24 ; 2006-11-09 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Article 304 ; Ordinance No. 6 of 24 July 2006 on the Conditions and Procedures for Granting Work Permits for Persons Under 18 Years of Age - Article 8 | [{"link_name":"- Labour Code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/61136/BGR-61136%20(EN).pdf"},{"link_name":"- Ordinance No. 6 of 24 July 2006","source_link":"https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2135533303"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Article 304. (Amended - SG No. 100 of 1992, amended - SG No. 25 of 2001, in force from 31.03.2001) of the Labour Code specifies work that is prohibited for persons under 18 years of age as: 1. beyond their physical or mental capabilities; 2. related to exposure to harmful physical, biological or chemical effects, especially to toxic agents, carcinogens, agents causing hereditary genetic or intrauterine damage; 3. related to harmful effects that in any other way have a permanent adverse effect on health; 4. in conditions of radiation; 5. at extremely low or high temperatures, noise or vibrations; 6. related to the risk of occupational accidents which it is assumed cannot be realised or avoided by the minor due to his physical or mental immaturity. In addition according to Article 8, Par. 2 and 3 of the Ordinance No. 6 of 24 July 2006 on the Conditions and Procedures for Granting Work Permits for Persons Under 18 Years of Age the prohibition applies to: work performed under the influence of physical, chemical, and biological agents listed in Section I of the Annex of the ordinance and processes and types of work listed in Section II of the Annex of the ordinance. The prohibition applies also when the work activity is not included in the list in the Annex, but the risk assessment has established the presence of a risk to the safety, health, and development of persons under 18 years of age. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2001-05-28 | C138 | Crafts Act - Article 45 | [{"link_name":"Crafts Act","source_link":"https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2135184905"}] | 16 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | According to Article 45 of the Crafts Act a person may be accepted as an apprentice if they are at least 16 years old and are not enrolled in a full-time form of study in a school from the system of pre-school and school education, nor in a full-time program at a higher education institution. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2016-08-01 | C138 | Preschool and School Education Act - Article 8 | [{"link_name":"Preschool and School Education Act","source_link":"https://lex.bg/bg/laws/ldoc/2136641509"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | In Bulgaria, according to Preschool and School Education Act Article 8, compulsory schooling starts at the age of 7 (or if the parents choose) and continues until the age of 16. This coincides with the minimum age for admission to work. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 1986-03-24 ; 1986-12-30 | C138 | Labour Code - Article 301; Ordinance on the Employment of Persons under 15 Years of Age - Articles 3, 7 and 8 | [{"link_name":"-Labour Code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/61136/BGR-61136%20(EN).pdf"},{"link_name":"-Ordinance on the Employment of Persons under 15 Years of Age","source_link":"https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/-552857598"}] | Yes | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | According to Article 301, p. 2 and 3 of the Labor Code as an exception, persons between 15 and 16 years of age may be employed to perform work of easy nature and not dangerous or harmful to their health and to their proper physical, mental and moral development, the implementation of which would not institute an obstacle to regular attending school or participating in programmes for professional orientation or training. Аs an exception, the circuses may recruit on student jobs girls who have turned 14 years of age, and boys who have turned 13, and, for the participation in shooting of films, in the preparation and giving theatrical and other performances, persons under 15 years of age may be recruited under easier conditions and in conformity with the requirements for their proper physical, mental and moral development. The labour terms in these cases shall be determined by the Council of Ministers. The Labour Inspectorate may issue a permit for the employment of a person under the age of 15 only on the basis of a medical opinion under Article 302, para. 1 of the Labour Code, issued by a medical consultative commission attached to the children's wards of multiprofile hospitals for active treatment. The permit issued by the Labour Inspectorate and the medical opinion shall be attached to the employment contract. The working time of a person under the age of 15 shall be determined according to the nature of the work and the person’s age, but shall not exceed 4 hours per day incl. at least one break of no less than 30 minutes. When the break coincides with or adjoins meal times, it may not be shorter than 1 hour. The individual daily schedule of persons under the age of 15 shall ensure an uninterrupted daily rest period of not less than 14 hours. The participation of persons under the age of 15 in performances or in film shooting after 8:00 p.m. is prohibited. (Articles 3, 7 and 8 of the Ordinance on the Employment of Persons under 15 Years of Age). |
| Minimum age for light work | 1986-03-24 | C138 | Labour Code - Article 301(2) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/61136/BGR-61136%20(EN).pdf"}] | 15 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | 15 years is the minimum age for light work according to Article 301(2) of the Labour Code; 13 years for boys and 14 years for girls willing to work in the circus, for the participation in shooting of films, in the preparation and giving theatrical and other performances (Article 301(2) of the Labour Code). |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 1986-03-24 | C138 | Labour Code - Article 301 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://wwwex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/natlex2/files/download/61136/BGR-61136%20(EN).pdf"}] | 16 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | The common minimum age to enter into an employment relationship is 16 years (Article 301 of the Labour Code). This requirement for minimum age is obligatory; a violation of this requirement leads to the contract’s invalidity. Exceptions are provided by the law and are numerus clausus. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 1968-05-01 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 354a | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/1589654529"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | The use, procuring, or offering of children for illicit activities, including drug trafficking, is prohibited under Article 354a of the Bulgarian Penal Code. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 1968-05-01 | C182 | Penal Code - Article 155 | [{"link_name":"Penal Code","source_link":"https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/1589654529"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Article 155 of the Bulgarian Penal Code, as amended, outlines the criminal offences and corresponding penalties related to inducing or facilitating prostitution and pornography. Involving a person under 18 years of age is considered an aggravating circumstance. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2009 | C182 | Act on Defence and Armed Forces - Art. 276. (2) 3. | [{"link_name":"Act on Defence and Armed Forces","source_link":"https://andyreiter.com/wp-content/uploads/military-justice/bg/Laws%20and%20Decrees/Bulgaria%20-%202000%20-%20Law%20on%20Defence%20and%20Armed%20Forces%20with%20Amendments%20through%202010.pdf"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Art. 276. (2) 3. of the Act states that " Obligations for mobilization reserve shall have the following persons, received mobilization appointment [...] men, accomplished 18 years of age, fit for military service". |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2002-08-30 | C182 | Anti-Trafficking in Human Beings Law - Article 1(1) | [{"link_name":"Anti-Trafficking in Human Beings Law","source_link":"https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2135467374"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | As specified in Article 1(1) of the Anti-Trafficking in Human Beings Law, it regulates: 3. measures to prevent and counter human trafficking; 4. measures for the protection and assistance of victims of human trafficking, especially women and children. 1. (amended - SG No. 84 of 2013) 'trafficking in human beings' means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, hiding or reception of people, regardless of their expressed will, when it is carried out for the purpose of exploitation; 2. (amended - SG No. 84 of 2013) 'exploitation' is the illegal use of people for debauchery, for taking away a body organ, tissue, cell or body fluid from the victim, for performing forced labour, for begging or to hold in involuntary subjection, to place in slavery or in a position similar to slavery. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 28-JUL-2000 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 23-APR-1980 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No evidence of a policy against Child Labour. | [{"link_name":"No information","source_link":"No information"}] | No information | No information | No information |