Women as Workers and as Carers under Communism and After: The Case of Bulgaria

Abstract

This paper reviews the work-family policy of Bulgaria before and after the transition. Before the transition the family policy was one of earner–carer where women were given support to combine work-force participation with childcare and men were at least encouraged to help with carework. After the transition women's access to help with carework became so limited that the family policy, by default, became one of dual earner, but with extremely high levels of unemployment. A survey of 349 women by the Varna Employment Office indicates how devastating the loss of employment was during the transition. Today policies that support family caregiving still exist on paper but are not enforced. This is due, in part, to the lack of organized broad-based women's groups. Such organizations would be necessary for women to effectively claim the rights and entitlements to caregiving support. But there is continuing pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and others to eliminate any state support for caregiving.

Notes

1. Attempts to reduce the household burdens of women could even lead to their increase since women were never consulted. Canteens available at the school and the workplace were used to justify tiny and unworkable kitchens (Stoev, 1994).

2. Personnel Employed in the National Economy on August 1, 1989. Sofia, Central Statistical Office, 1989, p. 89 (in Bulgarian).

3. Statistical Handbook, Varna: District Statistical Office, 1989, p. 80 (in Bulgarian).

4. Labor Code, Sofia, 1986, pp. 74–76 (in Bulgarian).

5. All of these women were receiving unemployment benefits.

6. This was a two-stage sample. At the first stage, districts of Varna were selected. Then, in each of the selected districts a systematic sample of registered women was selected. There were 349 women who were successfully interviewed. This survey was directed by Z. Ivanova of the Varna Employment Office, and took place in the spring of 1992.

7. The proposal to establish a Women's Small Business Center in Bulgaria was submitted as an Add-on to USAID Women in Development Office by the Office of the Associate Provost for International Programs and Special Sessions, University of Delaware. Subsequently the Delaware Office withdrew support. (Letter to M. Ariza-Nino from Larry P. Donelley, January 15, 1993.)