Main Activities ...
As a representative national employers’ organization, the BICA submits expert statements on themes and issues, debated between the social partners. The Association participates in the work of all bodies, build on tri-partite principle, amongst them are:
- National Council for Tripartite Cooperation;
- Economic and Social Council;
- Economic Growth Council at the Council of Ministries;
- Joint Consultative Committee for European Integration at the Ministry of Economy and Energy;
- Taxation Policy Council at the Ministry of Finance;
- National Council for Unemployment and Employment Enhancement at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy;
- Coordination Council on National Development Plan 2007 – 2013 and National Development Plan Working Groups, National Strategic Reference Framework and the respective Operational Programmes;
- Steering and governing bodies of the:
- National Social Security Institute;
- Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund;
- Labour Condition Fund;
- Social Investment Fund;
- National Innovation Fund;
- National Institute of Conciliation and Arbitration;
- National Agency for Vocational Education and Training, etc.
The Association is a member of the Association of the Organizations of the Bulgarian Employers (AOBE), which unites the national representative employers’ organizations in the country. Through the AOBE, BICA participates actively in coordination of unified positions of the Bulgarian business on important issues in the area of socio – economic environment improvement.
Through AOBE BICA is a member of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), which unites 141 national employer organisations from 135 countries from all over the world.
BICA is a collective member and Vice Chairman of the Governing Board of the established in 2005 Association of Bulgarian Investor Relations Directors.
In 2003, a Vocational Training Centre was licensed by the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training to BICA. Its efforts are targeted at increasing the qualification of the employers of BICA’s members, as well as at qualification provision to those, who want to adopt new skills or to improve the existing in the area of construction, machine building, administrative services, electrical engineering, tourist services, etc. in accordance to the precise needs of the enterprises for adoption of new skills, required by the modern technologies.
Priority for BICA is the successful entrance of the Bulgarian enterprises to the industrial markets of Europe and increase of their international competitiveness. In order its members to be sufficiently prepared for the EU accession; BICA targeted its efforts in assisting them in adaptation to the requirement of open competitive markets, favourable business environment provision, promotion of innovation, R&D and technological development.
BICA provides information and technical assistance for its members in order to help them apply for technology grants and projects as to improve their competitiveness in the field of innovation, environment, HR qualification improvement, etc.
The Association is constantly in contact with different bodies of the legislative and execution authorities, as the Parliament and its respective commissions, the Bulgarian National Securities Commission, Privatization Agency, Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency, National Agency for Information Technology and Communications, and others as well as with representatives of Bulgarian and international financial institutions, of parliamentary represented political forces in the country and others.
The legislative initiatives of BICA are targeted at improving the socio – economic environment in Bulgaria through submission of proposals and statements on different laws and regulations as for example: State Budget Law and taxation laws package, Labour Code, Social Security Code, Law for Public Offerings of Securities and the respective regulations, Law for SMEs, Law for Public Orders, Insurance Code, National Employment Action Plan, etc.
For a first time for the last 15 years, in 2005 the Bulgarian employers and trade unions signed a common position on what they require from the political forces in terms of specific measures for socio – economic environment improvement (“Appeal to the Representatives of the Political Forces and Participants in Elections 2005”). The good practice was extended through the preparation of a proposal to the Prime Minister of Republic of Bulgaria, which consists of specific legislative measures and at the initiation of a public debate on the National Development Plan 2007 – 2013.
As a result from the active position of BICA, under the Ministry of Economy and Energy has established Joint Consultative Committee for the purposes of informing business organizations about the commitments, undertaken by Bulgaria within EU accession negotiations, which has initiated wide campaign “Are We Ready to Face the EU Competitive Pressure?” The Committee has opened a call centre for consultation and has created a special “Business 2007” Department. BICA has organized wide spectrum of seminars in that direction as well as has implemented different initiatives to promote EU business practices and standards in the process of integration.
BICA develops and implements wide range of projects with national and international scope in different areas as to assist its members and to improve the business climate in the country. Amongst the most important achievements of the Association are the successfully implemented projects in the field of social dialogue development, corruption prevention, civil society development, corporate governance improvement, financial services development, employment promotion, HR qualification improvement, equal rights promotion, and others.
The BICA is one of the organizers of the National Awards Ceremony “Mr./Mrs. Economy” in the category “Major Achievements for Bulgarian Industry Development”. This award is to recognize the achievements of managers, experts, representatives of state administration, financial institutions, NGOs, who have stated their active positions for business climate improvement and Bulgarian industry competitiveness development.
Initiation and development of relations with business and employers’ organizations from the EU is a priority in BICA’s activities. Currently, contacts have been established with all trade and economic issues counsellors to the foreign embassies in Bulgaria, with the European Association for Listed Companies, the International Corporate Governance Network, the Association of the French Private-Sector Companies, the French Association of Finance Companies, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber of Commerce of Modena – Italy, the Japan Association for Trade with Russia and Central Eastern-Europe countries, etc. BICA joined the Local Economic Development along Transportation Corridor VIII Network in 2004.
© 2006 BICA. Created by Desart Studio.