Bulgaria: Termination of employment

Original and updating authors: Kalina Tchakarova and Youliana Naoumova, DGKV

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Summary

• Employment contracts may be terminated by the employer or employee, with or without notice depending on the circumstances, or by mutual consent, and contracts terminate automatically in some cases. (See General)
• Where the employer or employee terminates an employment contract with notice, statutory notice periods must be observed. (See Notice periods)
• The employer may terminate the employment contract by giving the employee notice only on certain grounds specified by statute. (See Dismissal with notice)
• The grounds on which an employer is permitted to dismiss an employee with notice include redundancy. Special rules apply to collective redundancies and selection for redundancy. (See Redundancy)
• An employment contract does not terminate automatically when the employee reaches pensionable age and has the necessary contribution history. (See Retirement)
• An employer is entitled to terminate an employment contract without notice in certain circumstances defined by statute, including where the employee has committed certain disciplinary offences or been imprisoned. (See Summary dismissal)
• Employees receive special protection against dismissal in certain situations and at certain times. This applies, for example, to employees who are pregnant or on maternity leave, or who act as trade union officials or employee representatives. (See Special dismissal protection)
• An employee may resign at any time by giving the employer notice, and is entitled to terminate the employment contract without notice in certain circumstances. (See Resignation)
• Employees are entitled to a compensation payment from their employer if their employment terminates for certain reasons (such as redundancy) or in certain circumstances (such as when the employee is eligible for an old-age pension). Employees may voluntarily agree to terminate their employment in exchange for compensation from the employer. (See Severance payments)
• An employee who believes that they have been unlawfully dismissed may bring a court case seeking remedies including compensation and reinstatement, and may also ask the employer directly to provide such remedies. (See Unfair/unlawful dismissal)