The main objectives of the comparative research project “Migrant Workers’ Perspective in Hungary, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria” are to shed light on policies on migrants’ employment in four countries in the Central and Eastern European region – Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania – and, by mapping regional similarities and differences, to create a common knowledge-base for policymakers and other stakeholders working in this field.

Like most countries covered by this research Bulgaria is slowly changing its profile, from a country of emigration and transit migration to a country of immigration in need of foreign labour. This report aims to contribute to a better understanding of the policy frameworks on migrant employment shaped by the interplay of national and European legislation and to establish whether they allow for settlement in the Bulgarian society or rather encourage secondary movement to other EU countries and circular migration. A further objective is to give voice to the migrants whose lives are governed by these policies, examining how they experience them and how they shape their lives. To that end, the report analyses two different entry points chosen as case studies on the basis of a mapping exercise in order to understand migrants’ situation, motivation and possibilities when it comes to accessing the Bulgarian labour market. Last but not least, this report aims to support Bulgarian policymakers in evaluating the National Strategy on Migration, Asylum and Integration (2015– 2020) and to provide policy-relevant evidence in preparation for the next national strategy covering the period after 2020.

The first part of the report is based on desk research and provides an overview of Bulgaria’s political, economic and demographic situation over the past decade, of its legal and policy framework on migrants’ access to the labour market, and of public opinion on migration.

The second part of the report provides an analysis of migrants’ experiences of studying, working and living in Bulgaria on the basis of 20 interviews – 16 with migrants and four with stakeholders – conducted in August 2019, aimed at identifying potential legal and policy gaps and challenges that are hampering their contribution to Bulgarian society. It focuses on two main entry points for migrants, which are relatively new and still under-researched:

1. Admission to Bulgaria through support from job-seeking intermediaries in the tourist industry. These are relatively new players when it comes to migrant worker recruitment, responding to the recently increased demand for foreign labour.
2. Admission of migrants to Bulgaria as university students who studied full-time at a Bulgarian university and began working while their studies were ongoing or after they graduated. In addition there is special focus here on foreign citizens of Bulgarian origin as they can benefit from facilitated admission and targeted programmes, a fact which distinguishes them from other foreign students.

Finally, the report makes a set of policy recommendations aimed at feeding policy discussions and further developments at the national and EU levels.