The Bulgarian Labour Code is detailed and formal. Many dismissals that were justified on the facts are annulled by the courts simply because a procedural step was missed. That makes employment law a field where a short consultation beforehand saves a great deal afterwards.
For employers
We draft employment and management contracts, job descriptions, internal labour rules and pay policies, and guide employers through disciplinary procedures, restructurings and collective redundancies. We represent companies during Labour Inspectorate checks, and we help them hire non-EU staff through the single permit or the EU Blue Card. For recruitment businesses we also handle registration as a labour intermediary.
For employees
We act for employees who have been dismissed unlawfully, are owed wages or compensation, or whose employment rights have been breached — before the Labour Inspectorate and the courts. In one recent case, the court found the dismissal unlawful and awarded compensation.
- Drafting and review of employment contracts
- Advice on termination and disciplinary procedures
- Claims for unlawful dismissal
- Claims for unpaid wages and compensation
- Health and safety at work
- Representation during Labour Inspectorate inspections
- Internal labour rules and workplace policies
Questions clients ask
How long does an employee have to challenge a dismissal?
Two months from the date the termination was served (Art. 358 of the Labour Code). The deadline is strict — a late claim will be rejected regardless of how clearly the dismissal breached the law. If the claim succeeds, the employee can be reinstated and receive compensation for up to six months of lost pay.
What should an employer check before dismissing someone?
That the legal ground is correct and stated precisely in the written order, that any required notice or prior explanations from the employee were obtained, that special protection (for example during pregnancy or for certain illnesses) does not apply, and that the order is served properly. Most annulments come from these formalities.
