Accommodation of religious diversity at the workplace through the prism of state–religion relations

Abstract

Issues of religion and the relations with the state do not attract continuous public interest in Bulgaria as they do in a number of Western European countries discussed in this special issue. Awareness and sensitivity of the Bulgarian civil society towards issues of religious diversity is low. This is also the case to an even greater extent with the issue of how religion and religious diversity are accommodated in workplaces. As a rule, public interest in religion is aroused only by certain provocative events. Explaining the historical background and developments that led to the contemporary legal and institutional framework, this article utilizes data from interviews with key opinion makers to provide context and insight in public debates and perceptions on the ground in Bulgaria. Interviews were conducted with key Bulgarian opinion makers, including politicians, unions and representatives from the main religions in Bulgaria. These respondents declared adamantly that there are no problems related to or provoked by religion in the field of labour-legal relations concerning individuals. However, there were some examples provided concerning religious holidays and prayers; the issue of religious dress in the workplace has been largely absent in legal forums. One reason for the lack of cases may be the lack of trust in the justice system as well as the presence of more pressing matters for workers who may face poverty, in one of the poorer EU Member States. During the last two decades, Bulgaria has developed the legal and institutional framework for the protection of human rights and equal treatment, but its practical implementation is still not effective enough. Individuals and organizations from different religious communities still try to find everyday solutions for their problems without opting for a real long-term legal resolution.