AGREEMENT between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on cooperation in the field of labour and social protection.

The Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria, considering that the cooperation in the field of labour and social protection will contribute to prompt implementation of proven good practices and positive experience in this extremely important domain at the present stage of development of both states, declaring their will to begin the development of bilateral cooperation based on the commonly accepted principles and norms of the international law and mutual respect and equality, agreed on cooperation in the following domains: (a) legislation regulating social security and pension spheres; (b) social cooperation with the non-governmental organizations; (c) labour relations and their legislative basis, ways of resolution of labour disputes; (d) overcoming poverty, socially protective mechanisms for combating poverty and social exclusion; (e) National Employment Strategy, actions and measures of active policy of the labour market and protection of the national labour market; (f) vocational qualification of the labour force in accordance with the labour market needs and vocational qualification of elderly people; (g) protection against unemployment and employment promotion, youth employment and integration of the disadvantaged groups on the labour market; (h) ensuring healthy and safe work conditions; (i) provision of social services at the specialized institutions and within the Community by governmental and nongovernmental organizations; (j) children protection and giving social assistance to children and their families; (k) ensuring equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities; (l) equal opportunities of women and men; (m) ensuring implementation of expenditure programs planned in the state budget and carrying out of internal control over the spent means; (n) providing expert support in transposition and practical implementation of the EU legislation in the field of free movement of people, social policy and employment; and (o) all other domains, on which agreement would be reached by both Parties.