The Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) and the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) have joined efforts to create a rating system for employers in Bulgaria, according to a media statement of BIA's press office issued after a joint meeting.

The joint project is financed under the Regional Development Operational Program.

The information system will include data about employers' economic situation, their commitment to corporate social responsibility and the conditions of work they offer.

"It is high time to shed light on Bulgarian employers' responsibility towards the state and their workers," CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov is quoted as saying by Mediapool.

In Dimitrov's words, at least 500 companies in Bulgaria have failed to pay one, two or more salaries to their employees.

"This rating system aims to solve a serious problem for entrepreneurs in Bulgaria - the "demonization" of employers. At present, straightforward and conscientious entrepreneurs suffer alongside disloyal employers," BIA Chair Bozhidar Danev is quoted as saying.

In his opinion, the economic situation in Bulgaria makes it essential to create sustainable and secure jobs with a high added value.

"To achieve this, it is important that trade unions and employers insist on the development of a long-term secure investment strategy resulting in job creation," Danev argues.

Under another project, BIA is working to develop and launch an information system for evaluating employee competency by sectors and regions.

The project is financed under the Human Resources Development Operational Program.

BIA has tasked rival companies from 20 sectors of the economy with designing unified professional standards for key jobs.

The standards set out the education, qualifications, formal and informal skills and competences required for workers holding a certain job, according to BIA's media statement.

Employers will be able to use the system when profiling the jobs at their company.

Professional standards have already been created for 72 jobs in the sectors of electronics, electrical engineering, machine building, metallurgy, meat processing, tourism and the furniture industry.

"The creation of these professional standards will facilitate the mobility of workers within a sector and will also provide clear-cut information to universities regarding what specialists they need to train," Danev clarified.