Bulgaria
Overview
Please review the information below and then return to the workplace harassment prevention course.
Harassment and discrimination based on a protected characteristic are prohibited under national law. National law also provides employees protection from bullying.
Applicable Laws
The primary national law prohibiting employment discrimination and harassment on the basis of any protected characteristic is the Protection against Discrimination Act.
Employers have an obligation, under the Health and Safety at Work Act, to take measures necessary to protect employees’ psychological and physical safety. This obligation has been interpreted to require employers to prevent workplace harassment.
Protected Characteristics
Harassment or discrimination based on any characteristic set forth below is prohibited in Bulgaria.
- Gender
- Race
- Nationality
- Ethnicity
- Citizenship
- Origin
- Religion or belief
- Education
- Convictions
- Political affiliation
- Personal or social status
- Disability
- Age
- Sexual orientation
- Marital status
- Property status
- Any other grounds established by law or an international treaty to which Bulgaria is a party
Regional, state or other political subdivision laws may provide additional, separate standards and remedies for certain prohibited conduct.
Definitions
Harassment
Harassment is unwanted physical, verbal or other conduct based on any protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person and of creating a hostile, degrading, humiliating, offensive or intimidating environment.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is any unwanted physical, verbal or other conduct of a sexual nature which violates a person’s dignity or honour and creates a hostile, degrading, offensive, humiliating or intimidating environment and, in particular, where refusal to accept such conduct or the compulsion thereto may influence the taking of decisions affecting the person.
Filing a Claim in Bulgaria
A claim for employment discrimination or harassment may be filed with the Commission for Protection against Discrimination.
In certain circumstances, employment discrimination and harassment claims may also be filed in court.
Potential Remedies
In Bulgaria, an employee who has experienced workplace discrimination or harassment may be entitled to monetary and other remedies. An employer may be required to take certain actions to correct or redress discriminatory harassment or violations of workplace safety standards. Potential remedies are listed below.
- Hiring
- Transfers
- Reassignments
- Promotions
- Reinstatement to a position
- Compensation for lost wages and benefits
- Damages for injury to dignity or feelings
- Cease and desist orders
Retaliation Prohibited
Employer retaliation against an employee who files a complaint relating to discrimination or harassment or is involved in the complaint process is unlawful.