Bulgaria has standard working /office/ hours, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with up to 1 hour of an unpaid break for lunch. This however may vary, depending on the company agreement and business field of activities.
Job placements with foreign languages can require some specific working times due to time differences. For example, if you are covering Czech/Slovak countries, there is an hour time difference with Bulgaria. If covering the UK, there is two hours time difference.
The average working week is 40 hours (8 hours a day – 5 days a week). In some cases, the employer may require employees to work extended hours on particular days. It happens very rarely and it all depends on the employer and the employee arrangements.
Overtime in general is prohibited in Bulgaria, except in certain very limited cases. It is recommended to confirm the overtime policy with your new employer.
According to the Labour Code, there are obligatory Coffee/Tea breaks during the working day,10-15 min each. However, many companies are very generous when it comes to breaks. The quick coffee/cigarette break is the perfect socializing time in Bulgaria. Do not be surprised to experience short but regular breaks during the working day.
Most employers offer an hour unpaid Lunch/Meal break. By law, this break should not be shorter than 30 min.
Public Holidays
There are 11 Public Holidays in Bulgaria per year, all paid non-working dates. Enjoy the days off and view the link below to all Bank Holidays for 2023 and 2024.
It is worth mentioning the Liberation Day, especially if one is interested in history. This public holiday is celebrated across the country on the 3rd of March each year to remember the day in 1878 when the nation was liberated from Ottoman rule. That was the day when after many violent battles and bloodshed, Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of San Stefano. Bulgaria was free of the Ottomans after long 500 years of slavery. The Liberation Day is celebrated at ceremonies all over the
country, flowers, and reefs are laid by many memorials, dedicated to this important milestone in Bulgarian history.
When it comes to Easter celebrations, these are some of the most important holidays in Bulgaria. Easter or Velik Den is a mixture of an old and modern tradition. And make sure to try Kouzunak, the traditional Easter sweet bread.
Another very significant and colorful celebration in Bulgaria is Saint Georgeās Day – celebrated on the 6th of May every year. Saint George is the patron of shepherds and farmers and by tradition, this is the day to eat Spring lamb, prepared on traditional Cheverme. Usually, all families gather together and enjoy a big feast, lamb on the grill or charcoal, plenty of fresh salads and traditional home made bread, baked in different forms. This is the day, when a very important name day is celebrated as well, Georgeās day – Georgeov Den.
24th of May – a national holiday, celebrating the day of the Slavonic Alphabet, the Bulgarian Enlightenment, Education and Culture. The Cyrillic Script is actually one of the most compelling contributions Bulgaria has made to the world. It all started in the 9th century when two brothers from Thessaloniki created the Cyrillic alphabet, used today in 12 countries in Eastern Europe and Northern and Central Asia. This vital event for the Bulgarians provided the path to the establishment of the culture and the nation as such. The day is celebrated with many cultural and academic events, activities and parties all across the country.
