Employment Contract and Minimum Wage in Bulgaria 2026
Minimum Wage 2026
In 2026 the minimum wage (MW) in Bulgaria is €620.20 gross from 1 January 2026 (BGN 1,213; Council of Ministers Decree No. 243/13.11.2025, State Gazette No. 98/18.11.2025), with an hourly rate of €3.74. Net salary is approximately €481 (after deductions for social contributions and tax).
Caveat: €550.66 is the 2025 minimum wage and applies in 2026 only as the minimum insurable income for self-insured persons until 31 July 2026.
The employer's social contribution burden is 18.52% + accident fund 0.4–1.1% of gross (18.92–19.62% in total).
Mandatory Elements of an Employment Contract
Under Art. 66 of the Labour Code, the employment contract must contain:
- Name and registered address of the employer
- Full name, PIN and address of the employee
- Job title and NOC code
- Date of conclusion and start date
- Working hours and rest periods
- Basic and supplementary remuneration
- Paid annual leave
NOC Code — Mandatory for Registration
When filing the notification of a concluded employment contract (form 1) with the NRA, the full 8-digit NOC occupation code is required (e.g. 25126004 — Software developer), not just the 4-digit class. The notification must be filed within 3 days of concluding the contract.
Example codes:
- 25126004 — Software developer
- 24116004 — Accountant
- 22216001 — Nurse
- 52232001 — Sales consultant
Probation Period
- Maximum probation period: 6 months (Art. 70, para. 1 of the Labour Code)
- For fixed-term contracts up to 1 year: maximum 1 month
- A shorter period — only in favour of the employee
During the probation period the party in whose favour it was agreed may terminate the contract without notice and without compensation; if the contract does not specify, either party may do so (Art. 71(1) of the Labour Code).
How Firmify Generates an Employment Contract
- Select the contract type: standard, remote work or supplementary agreement
- Fill in the employer and employee details
- Firmify automatically checks the minimum wage and generates a ready PDF
- Print, sign and file the notification with the NRA
All templates comply with the current Labour Code and the applicable secondary legislation.
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