On March 31, 2026, a job fair for employers and third-country nationals was held in Sofia, organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and CEED Bulgaria under the project "Functionally Sustainable Migration and Integration in Bulgaria." The Foundation for Access to Rights (FAR) participated in the event as a selected subcontractor for the project, serving in the capacity of external experts.

The event was conducted in two mutually complementary formats:

Information Session for Migrants

The first part consisted of an information session moderated by Dr. Valeria Ilareva, Attorney-at-Law. During the session, Magdalena Miteva, Attorney-at-Law from FAR, presented the topic "Working in Bulgaria – Rights, Procedures, and Practical Steps for Third-Country Nationals." In an accessible manner, she explained the legal framework, the specific stages a foreign national must go through to legally commence employment, and their labor rights within the country. To facilitate the participation of Ukrainian and Russian-speaking migrants, communication was supported by our colleague Oleg Kolot, who acted as a mediator.

Job Fair

The second part featured the job fair itself—a direct dialogue between employers and job seekers. Moderation was provided by Yanka Kosarova (Attorney-at-Law), Eng. Maria Netsova, and Dr. Valeria Ilareva (Attorney-at-Law) from FAR, who guided the discussions and ensured a constructive exchange between both parties.

The event attracted job seekers from Ukraine, Syria, Nigeria, Russia, and several other countries, as well as Bulgarian employers from the construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and services sectors.