Labour and Social Policy Minister Emilia Maslarova is facilitating a job fair in Madrid aiming to inspire Bulgarian immigrants in Spain to return by finding a suitable job, Dnevnik daily reported on November 15 2008.

Most of the participating Bulgarian companies that will advertise vacant positions are in the construction business, such as Glavbolgarstroi, ZSK Boruy – Stara Zagora, Besttechnica TM – Radomir, as well as Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria AD, Job City and Spanish firms with offices in Bulgaria. The National Employment Agency will have informational stands to provide details about the labour market in the country.

According to the Bulgarian embassy in Madrid, there are close to 150 000 Bulgarians who live in Spain, one-third of which work there legally. A recent survey conducted by the Social ministry showed that a number of immigrants were willing to return if effective measures against corruption were undertaken.

Most of the respondents have not considered high salaries as a primary condition for their comeback as more than 72 per cent have said that what was more vital to the country was the observance of the law, which would ensure stability and security.

Many immigrants have indicated that a salary of 1500 leva would be a sufficient reason for them to return, while 30 per cent have responded that between 500 and 1200 leva would suffice.

In the survey have participated 181 employers, many of which have said that the minimum monthly wages they were inclined to offer were 620 leva, an average of 803 leva and the highest salary could reach 1064 leva.

Most of Bulgarians in Spain are aged 25 to 39, and many of them live there with their families. According to the survey’s data, a lot of the respondents have said that they are happy with their life there.

Job fairs with the participation of Bulgarian companies will be held in Greece and the UK, where there are large Bulgarian communities.