Improving cooperation in the area of SSC BG_BE bilateral meeting

The meeting is initiated by the BG National Social Security Institute in relation to a rising number of cases of BG seasonal workers in BE who work for relatively short period of time and afterwards claim unemployment benefits in BG and receive the ceiling as the benefits are calculated on the basis of the BE wage. There are indications that in some cases there is a fraudulent scheme in place. In the last years there are indications from employers that people receiving such benefits don’t want to loose them as they are higher than the remuneration in BG and are looking for work but prefer to stay undeclared. 

Issues discussed include:

• Exchange of information regarding SS legislation in BG and BE – implementation and challenges 
• Exchange of information regarding EU SSC rules (residence, insurance periods, usage of EESSI, portable documents (SEDs))
• Seasonal workers in BE – special rules applicable to occasional workers (SS contributions, labour contacts, insurance periods, SS benefits)
• How to prevent abuse of the loopholes in BG SS system

Outcomes include a better understanding of the SS systems in BE and BG, improvement of communication and cooperation in EESSI and identification of possible ways to prevent abuse of the loopholes in BG SS system.