Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees has presented a humble report on its progress in finding jobs for refugees.

In the past four months, a total of 19 foreign nationals, who had been granted refugee status or humanitarian status, signed employment contracts in different parts of the country thanks to the cooperation of Bulgaria’s Employment Agency, according to reports of Sega daily.

They found jobs as tailors, knitting machine operators, cutters, sewing machine technicians, cooks, and hotel piccolos.

The majority of refugees started jobs in the clothing industry, according to data of the State Agency for Refugees.

Centers managed by Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees currently accommodate a total of 2192 foreign nationals, 205 of whom have been granted humanitarian status or refugee status, meaning that their rights and obligations as workers are equal to those of Bulgarian nationals.

In the first eight months of 2014, a total of 5554 applications for protection were submitted with the State Agency for Refugees. A total of 4682 people were granted humanitarian or refugee status. The number of people who have left the country since then is unknown.

In August 2014, a total of 1102 applications for protection were submitted with the State Agency for Refugees.

At the end of August 2014, 48 refugees registered at employment offices.

According to Sega daily, they have a good chance of finding a job as there are new announcements for vacancies for refugees.

According to statistics of Bulgaria’s State Agency for Refugees, two Syrian nationals have been hired as tailors and cutters at the knitwear factory Kris Fashion in Lovech. Their monthly salary amounts to BGN 800-900 and the job involves both day and night shifts. The company has also offered to provide free-of-charge accommodation for a few months and free transport.

Three Syrian refugees have found jobs in the village of Lozen, Sofia district, but their monthly salary is lower, at BGN 450-600, because they work fewer hours. The company Nianel, which produces clothing for men, women and children, pays their rent for accommodation sites in the region.

Gotse Deltchev based apparel manufacturer Pirin-Tex has hired 8 refugees from Syria, Palestine, and Iraq. Their salaries have not been made public, but they have signed employment contracts for the jobs and they receive food vouchers worth BGN 60 per month.

Two Syrian refugees have started jobs at a Lebanese restaurant in the seaside resort of Aheloy and a Cameroon national works as a musician at the Marina Cape resort village.

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