Bulgaria's new labor law changes part‑time work seniority rules

Effective 1 January 2027, Bulgaria will amend its Labour Code so that work seniority is calculated on the basis of actual hours worked. Under the new rules, a four‑hour workday will accrue seniority proportionally, meaning a full year of seniority is recognised only after the equivalent of 12 months of full‑time employment. The change primarily affects part‑time employees – estimates cite about 62,000 workers on reduced schedules and more than 300,000 citizens overall.

Trade unions warn the reform will delay pension eligibility, cut additional seniority bonuses and reduce annual leave, and they fear employers may reassign staff to four‑hour shifts to lower costs. Employers and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce defend the measure as restoring fairness in labour relations.

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva has announced she will lodge a complaint with the Constitutional Court, calling the amendments an abuse of legislative technique and criticizing the lack of public consultation and impact assessment.