VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSF #0078 0320841
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010841Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6673

UNCLAS SOFIA 000078 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI
 
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: CHILD LABOR REPORT 
 
REF:  A. SECSTATE 131997 
 
¶1.  (U) In response to reftel, U.S. Embassy Sofia contacted the 
Government's Labor Inspectorate which reported no cases of child 
exploitation in the production of goods in the formal economy.  The 
Inspectorate agreed with NGOs' assessment that what forced child 
labor existed was in the gray economy and consisted of forced 
begging, pick pocketing, dumpster-diving, distribution of narcotics, 
and prostitution.  This appears to be particularly common among 
children of Roma origin.  In rural areas, children are also involved 
in agriculture to help their families. 
 
¶2.  (U) NGOs including the Institute for Social Activities and 
Practices, International Social Services Bulgaria, and Ekip, noted a 
lack of reliable statistics and analysis on the magnitude of forced 
child labor in Bulgaria.  Despite the lack of statistics, according 
to the local coordinator of an International Labor Organization 
project, the amount of forced child labor in the production of goods 
is not significant.  NGOs reported that child labor laws are 
generally enforced well, but highlighted that the gray economy fall 
outside the authority of the Labor Inspectorate.  They also assessed 
positively the increased capacity of social workers to assist 
children and their ability to refer child victims of exploitive 
labor practices to six state-run shelters throughout the country. 
 
¶3.  (U) Representatives of the Government's Labor Inspectorate 
reported a decline in child labor in 2009, which they attributed to 
the overall rise in unemployment as a result of the financial 
crisis.  The Inspectorate granted a total of 2,765 requests for 
employment of children between 16 and 18 years in 2009, compared to 
5,807 in 2008.  The majority concerned employment in the service 
industry.  In 2009, the Inspectorate issued a limited number of work 
permits for underage workers employed in the production of goods. 
All of the cases involved students who sought employment as 
seamstresses to complement their vocational training. 
 
¶4.  (U) The Inspectorate noted increased awareness among employers 
and improved compliance with the work permit requirements in the 
formal economy.  According to the Inspectorate, the harsh fines of 
up to BGN 15,000 (approximately USD 11,200) and possible criminal 
charges explained the fall in the number of violations.  In 2009, 
the Inspectorate referred 58 cases of unlicensed, underage workers 
to the Prosecution Service, compared to 194 in 2008.  All of these 
reports were related to children working without a permit in the 
service industry.  The Inspectorate also found 120 other violations 
of child labor laws, primarily involving failure to provide 
protective uniforms, compared to 365 such violations in 2008. 
 
WARLICK