Abstract
Bulgaria is one of the countries of Central Europe most affected by the upheavals following the break-up of the Soviet bloc. Since 1990, its economy has been plunged into sharp decline, due to the collapse in its trade relations, chronic foreign debt and the necessity of fundamental industrial restructuring. Poverty, unemployment and regional economic disparities have become chronic.
Successive governments have tried to come to terms with the enormous challenge of transforming the economic structure and implementing social and labour market policies needed to ease the transition to a new form of economy and to provide the basis of a more equitable and efficient society.
There is a broad consensus that for a small country like Bulgaria, with its well-established traditions of close kinship ties, co-operatives, community spirit and participation, the most appropriate and feasible way for resolving social, economic and labour market challenges is an approach based on Social Dialogue and social consensus. That requires a slow process of institution-building for the purpose. An institutionally unregulated form of market economy would be anathema in Bulgaria, besides accentuating social and economic divisions and intensifying myriad forms of social injustice.
This book reviews developments in the Bulgarian labour market, social policy and industrial relations, and proposes a set of policies and technical assistance projects that would assist the Government, employers and trade unions, as well as guide the ILO and other technical assistance and donor agencies in their advisory work.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Acronyms
Chapter 1: The Economic and Social Context
Chapter 2: The Crisis of Mass Unemployment
Chapter 3: Reforming the Remuneration System in Bulgaria
Chapter 4: Unions and Employers Search for New Roles
Chapter 4: Unions and Employers Search for New Roles
Chapter 5: Labour Market Policies for Restructuring
Chapter 6: In Search of Effective Social Protection
Chapter 7: Conclusions and Recommendations
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On the occasion of the 8th European Regional Meeting, the ILO is launching the Albanian, Romanian, Serbian and Ukrainian versions of the Decent Work Flash
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