1. GENDER EQUALITY in Bulgaria compared with the EU-28
Prof. Rossitsa Rangelova, D.Ec.Sc.
Economic Research Institute,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Seminar organised by the Women in Industry and Science Club at the Scientific and Technical Unions in Mechanical Engineering
Sofia,

2. Country Rankings of the Status of Women, 1988
There is a very indicative study of Population Crisis Committee in Washington D.C. titled "Country Rankings of the Status of Women". In this study of 99 countries, representing 2,3 billion women (92% of the world's female population);
See POPULATION Briefing Paper, Population Crisis Committee, No 20, June 1988.
20 indicators measure women's well-being in five sectors: - health,
- marriage and children,
- education,
- employment, and
- social equality and Totals.

3. Country Rankings of the Status of Women, 1988
The highest ranked is Sweden, the lowest - Bangladesh.
Bulgaria takes an advanced position - the 9th place, after Sweden, Finland, the US, East Germany, Norway, Canada, Denmark, Australia, but before Belgium, ex-Czechoslovakia, Hungary, ex-USSR, France, West Germany, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, the UK, etc.
A profound analysis proved that the advanced position of Bulgaria is mainly due to the strong involvement of women in education and employment, but not very good positions in terms of health, marriage and children, and especially of social equality (particularly comparing with the Scandinavian countries).

4. Changes in the economic status of women in Bulgaria after World War II
Bulgaria’s position could be explained by the social and economics development after WWII. In terms of labour demand this is explained by the need to rebuild the economy after the war and implement the new socialist ideology, proclaiming active policy of equality between men and women.
From the supply side several new trends for women were observed- improving education, reducing the birth rate and increase employment and wages.

5. Social changes
At that time, the sociaty sought more active ways of developing the cultural sphere, health and other social activities. Subject to particular attention was education. Schools better fulfill the social-economic function - training the younger generation, including women for effective social development. Active work on meeting the growing spiritual needs of the people through various forms was launched: libraries, cinema, the typical Bulgarian institution, which is cultural heritage and called “chitalishte”, coming from the verb “read”, etc.

6. Reference:
Рангелова, Р. (2011), Промени в икономическия и социалния статус на жените в България, г. В "Пол и преход ( )". Фондация „Център за изследвания и политики за жените, София , c

7. At that time women in the developed economic countries
experienced the so-called three-stage model of women development:     - first, training in youth years - second, marriage, family and child care and
- thirth, employed in paid work (if desired) when they grow up children.
Gradually the women of "capitalist" countries entered the labour market, albeit later (and began externalization of the home work).

8. The given text could be read in:
Rangelova, R. (1989), Status of Women in Bulgaria: Economic and Social Aspects. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Illinois Economic Association, Chicago, the USA,
21 October 1989.

9. After 1989 the CEE countries, including BG undertook a process of political and economic transformations from centrally planned to a market type economy
In a social plan however the CEE countries should cope with a combination of two factors: depopulation and ageing population like in the developed Western European countries but in the conditions of low-income economies.
As far as the emigrants (incl. Bulgaria) are mainly young, educated and ambitious people the demographic crisis has deepened and this leads to negative effects on the quantity and quality of the human capital there.

10. Scale of the migration from Bulgaria, 1989-2016 (NSI)
Period
Number of migrants
1989
218,000
252,000
221,000
Total
691,000
Total
750,000
Total
800,000 – 0ver 1 million

11. Labour market niches for the Bulgarian newcomers in Greece and Spain are similar:
for women - employment in domestic services and as cleaning staff as well as in nursing of elderly people and children;
both for men and women: employment in the hotel and gastronomy business and the agricultural sector (fruit-pickers);
for men – work as day labourers and as construction workers. Advertising and delivery of brochures for nightclubs, and restaurants are often a starting activity for Bulgarians in Spain.
Nearly 20% of the Bulgarians in Spain work in private firms of their country-men.
Many people who have been engaged in the trade, construction, hotels and restaurants business in Bulgaria keep working the same sector in the receiving country. Most of those who have been employed in the agriculture or the industry move to the service sector.

12. At present
In the number of BG population was nearly 9 million, now is 7,153 million. Every single year the population in BG decreased by neraly , i.e. one town.
A total of 51.4% of Bulgaria's population are women, or 3,676,607 people.
The average life expectancy at birth is 74.5 years: 78 years for women compared to 71.1 years for men.
In the EU-28, women live on average 83.6 years and men years. Bulgaria ranked 26th for men and 28th for women.

13. Life expectancy
Life expectancy at 65 years of age for men is 14.1 years and for women years in 2014.
The EU-28 average in 2014 was higher at 18.2 years for men and 21.6 years for women.
Bulgaria ranked again 26th for men and 28th for women.

14. Life expectancy at birth
At the other end of the ranking in the EU are Spain, where the total average life expectancy is 83.3 years and Italy 83.2 years.
The average life expectancy for the urban population in Bulgaria is 2.7 years higher (75.3 years) than for the rural population (72.6 years). Compared to 2005, population growth in the urban areas is 2.4 years in 2015, while for the rural population it remains at the same level.
By districts the average life expectancy also varies from 72.6 years in Vidin region to 76.5 years in Kardzhali.
Women live longer than men in all areas of the country, but the difference between the two sexes is the highest in the regions of Vratsa years and in Montana years, and the smallest in the district of Kardzhali years.

15. Higher 40 60 Secondary (high) 52 48 Basic and lower 46 54
Structure of people by level of education and gender (Source: National Statistical Institute, 2006)
Level of education
Men
Women
Higher 40 60
Secondary (high) 52 48
Basic and lower 46 54

16. Graduates higher education by degree and sex in 2015
Men
Women
Total
(40%)
(60%)
Professional Bachelor
1 127
1 408
Bachelor
13 277
18 346
Master
9 874
17 244
Doctor
723
719

17. Specific labour market in BG today, legacy from the past times
Bulgaria women are almost on par with men. Typical of Bulgaria is much higher participation of women in FTE (full time) employment for workers aged (63.5% in 2015) than women on average in the EU-28 (55.3% in 2015).
For men it is lower (69.8%) than the average for men in the EU-28 (73.4%).

18. A particular combination of two indicators could be marked
Firstly, the full-time equivalent gender gap in Bulgaria (6.3 p.p. in 2014) is nearly 3 times lower than the EU-28 average (18.1 p.p.). Bulgaria ranked 25th.
Contrary to that, the part-time employment rate (% total employment) is very low for the two genders: for men - 2.3% and for women - 3.1% respectively in The EU-28 average is over four times higher for men (9.9%) and over ten times higher for women (32.9%) in Bulgaria is ranked 28th for both genders. The gender gap is much lower and Bulgaria ranked 1st among the EU-28 countries.

19. Labour tendencies for Bulgaria:
full employment widely prevails over part-time one, but in other countries reverse dependency is observed: women are relatively more engaged in part-time employment.
These facts for Bulgaria could be explained as follows:
(a) there is very similar pattern of the male and female employment;
(b) the labour market is not yet flexible enough;
(с) because of the very low average income workers widly prefer full-time employment.

20. The gender pay gap (unadjusted) is below the EU-28 average (14
The gender pay gap (unadjusted) is below the EU-28 average (14.2% versus 16.7% in 2014)
Considering by economic activities in 2015,
men are better paid than women in the following sectors (NSI):
- Health and social work where gander gap is 31.7%;
- Manufacturing %;
- Financial and insurance activities %;
- Water supply; Sewerage, waste management and recovery - 20%;
- Production and distribution of information and creative products;
Telecommunications -19.2%;
- Mining Industry -18%;
- Trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles -15.7% etc.
Women are better paid only in two sectors:
- Administrative and support activities - minus 26.8% and
- Construction - minus 10.7%.
The smallest is the difference in Transport and storage - 4.2%.

21. РАЗЛИКА В ЗАПЛАЩАНЕТО ПО ПОЛ в БГ, 2015 г. Общо 14.2
Добивна промишленост (8)
Преработваща промишленост (2)
Производство и разпределение на електрическа и топлинна енергия и на газообразни горива (11)
Доставяне на води; Канализационни услуги, управление на отпадъци и възстановяване (4)
Строителство
Търговия; ремонт на автомобили и мотоциклети (6)
Транспорт, складиране и пощи (16)
Хотелиерство и ресторантьорство (9)
Създаване и разпространение на информация и творчески продукти; далекосъобщения (5)
Финансови и застрахователни дейности (3)
Операции с недвижими имоти (10)
Професионални дейности и научни изследвания (12)
Административни и спомагателни дейности
Държавно управление (15)
Образование (7)
Хуманно здравеопазване и социална работа (1)
Култура, спорт и развлечения (13)
Други дейности (14)

22. Women in decision-making
Women are relatively well represented in decision-making positions. There is balanced gender representation in both politics and business. This is a result of long-term traditions and the efforts of women to realize their professional potential.

23. Sorted in descending order of ranking the picture is as follows
The highest is the share of women in the Supreme Courts, at 75% in It is nearly twice the EU-28 average of 39% and Bulgaria ranked 2nd in the EU-28.
The same is the situation concerning the share of women in the National Government (senior ministers). It increased from 18% in 2011 to 35% in 2015, increasing to 47% This compares with the EU-28 average of 28% for Bulgaria ranked 2th.
In the Central Bank, the share of women grew from 14% in 2011 to 57% in 2Q2016. The EU-28 average was 21% in 2015 and Bulgaria ranked 5th. In the national public administration (level 2 administrators), the share of women increased from 47% in 2011 to 52% in This is significantly higher than the EU-28 average of 41% in 2016 and Bulgaria ranked 6th.

24. Sorted in descending order of ranking the picture is as follows
The share of women in quoted business largest companies slightly increased from 15% in 2011 to 19% in 2015 and slightly decreasing in 2Q2016 (18%). The EU-28 average was 23% in Bulgaria ranked 14th.
The share of women in the National Parliament was 22% in 2011 and fluctuated in reached 19% in The latter compares with the EU-28 average of 29% ranked Bulgaria 19th.

26. Parental/maternity/paternity leaves:
The longest paid maternity leave period of 410 days per child is in Bulgaria (for the EU-28 average it is 225 days). A pregnant woman is obliged to take 45 days leave before the child’s birth date.
Parental/maternity/paternity leaves count as pensionable service.
During the first year of maternity leave a women receives monthly 90% of her average daily wage before the maternity leave. This benefit is individual and is provided for women having a length of labour service of at least 12 months and having paid social insurance. Mothers who are students receive a monthly maternity support of up to 100% of the statutory minimum wage. During the second year of maternity leave every woman receives a monthly social benefit of 100% of the statutory minimum wage. Now there are amendments to the latter regulation.

27. Poverty
The overall at-risk-of-poverty rate is high in Bulgaria although there is a downward trend over time. The at-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion rate in 2014 was 38.8% for men and 41.3% for women, which is over 1.6 times as high as the EU-28 average of 23.6% for men and 25.2% for women.
At-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion rate for older people (aged 65 and over) is even worse. It was 42.3% for men in 2014, nearly 3 times as the EU-28 average of 14.6%. It was 51.5% for women, nearly 2.5 times the EU-28 average of 20.2%.
The situation concerning at-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion of single parent households is similar at 69.3% compared to 48.3% for the EU-28 average.
For all three indicators, Bulgaria ranks 1st in the EU-28 as the poorest country (2nd for overall at-risk-of-poverty of men).

28. The phenomenon of "children have children" in Bulgaria
Over 90% of the cases come from Roma families. Arguments are that early births associate with the mentality, traditions and lifestyle of the Roma people.
This negative trend continues despite the measures of state institutions (mostly post factum than preventive), in particular of the Agency for Child Protection.
Recently the discussion in society be renewed on the occasion that the 13-year-old girl from Sliven born first baby of The father is 15 years old. The baby was named after her father in law, who is 33 years old. The girl (mother) is not going to come back to school.
No matter health, criminal or social is the problem of early parenthood it should be criminalized. The offense under investigation is for copulation of a boy (man) with a person under 14 years, and the penalty is from 2 to 6 years in prison.

29. Undetaken Pension reform
Pension reform has focused on increasing and equalizing the retirement age and increasing length of service requirements. The retirement age for men and women will be equalized at 65 years in After 2037 an automatic mechanism will be introduced to harmonize the retirement age increase with that life expectancy.
Longer live – longer learn – longer work

30. Proportion of women researchers in Edu (HES), Gov and Business, 2012
EU-28
41.0
41.6
19.7 BG
45.6
55.2
42.8
LT (Lit)
55.6
51.2
31.0 ES
40.8
48.5
29.4
LV(Lat)
53.0
57.8
47.5 IT
39.9
45.9
21.6 PT
49.1
60.8
32.9 HU
37.8
41.5
19.2 FI
47.3
44.2
16.3 DE
36.9
34.4
14.2 HR
47.1
52.7
42.9 EL
35.6
48.1
30.8 EE
46.9
61.7
30.2 CZ
36.3
33.3
15.1 RO
46.7
47.2 FR
35.4
20.0

31. Proportion of women heads of institutions in the higher education sector, 2014, % (men + women = 100%)
EU-28
20.1 LT
27.1 BG
22.4 SK
13.9 RS
53.8 LV
25.0 HR
21.2 NL
13.6 SE
50.0 FI
24.4 PL
18.2 EL
13.5 IS
40.0 BE
23.8 CH
17.5 RO
11.1 NO
39.1 AT
23.5 CZ
16.9 CY
10.9 DK
32.7 IT
23.2 DE
16.5 FR
10.2 SI
30.5 HU
16.7 LU
0.00 PT
29.8 EE
15.4

32. Proportion of women heads of universities or assimilated institutions based on capacity to deliver PhD, 2014, % (men + women = 100%)
EU-28
15.0 SI
26.8 SK
14.3 CH
8.3 SE
50.0 AT
25.9 FR
13.4 IT
7.4 FI
40.0 NL
21.4 CY
12.5 BG
7.3 NO
37.5 PT
20.0 LT
11.1 RO
6.1 IS
33.3 EL
17.2 HR CZ
3.7 MT DE
16.8 BE
9.1 HU DK
30.8 RS
15.7 PL
8.5 LU
0.0 LV
28.6 EE

33. Gender pay gap – GPG (%) in the total economy, 2010
EU-28
16.6 IS
17.7 SE
15.6 LU
8.7 EE
27.3 HU
17.6 LV
15.5 RO
8.1 AT
24.0 NL
17.5 EL
15.0 HR
5.7 DE
22.3 CY
16.8 BG
13.0 MK CZ
21.2 DK
16.4 PT
12.8 IT
5.3 FI
20.3 ES
16.2 LT
11.9 PL
4.5 SK
19.6 NO
15.8 BE
10.2 SI
0.7 CH
17.8 FR

34. The GPG widens with age (years), 2010
< 35
35-44
45-54
55+
Total
EU-28
7.8
17.2
20.4
20.6
16.6 EE
24.7
32.2
26.6
23.2
27.3 DE
9.8
23.6
27.2
22.3 FI
14.0
21.3
22.8
25.6
20.3 BG
9.6
19.2
17.5
4.7
13.0 RO
1.3
9.7
10.4
8.2
8.1 HR
0.2
10.0
9.1
-1.4
5.7

35. National gender policy
National Strategy for Promoting Equality between Women and Men 2016–2020 (Национална стратегия за насърчаване на равнопоставеността между жените и мъжете) is currently in force. Based upon this strategy annual plans are derived. A coherent and comprehensive policy vision on gender equality is not presented there.
Public institutions should implement gender mainstreaming in all policies at all levels of the Government: central, regional and local administrations. In fulfilling the National Action Plan 2017 (Национален план за действие, 2017 г), the Government has acted to increase the administrative capacity on gender equality by organising training courses for national and local administrative staff.
Gender budgeting/auditing is considered within the annually approved budgeting plan/auditing of the activities of relevant public institutions like the MLSP (Министерство на труда и социалната политика), the Ministry of Defence (Министерство на отбраната), the Ministry of Education and Science (Министерство на образованието и науката), and the Ministry of Health (Министерство на здравеопазването).

36. Public debate on GE at present:
has focused on gender equality in:
- labour market,
- equalizing the age of retirement for women and men in the process of going on total increase of retirement age,
- low birth rate, and specifically, unequal birth rates for different ethnic groups,
- the role of education for the participation of people in the labour market.

37. Thank you for your attention.