Parliament has passed, at second reading, changes to the Private Security Activity Act proposed by the Council of Ministers. More people will be able to work in private security.

The rule that the employment contract must be the "main" one is dropped, so people who want a second job in security can now take one. Managers of trading companies, and legal entities, now also have to meet the security licensing requirements.

The number of National Police Directorate General staff from the Interior Ministry on the Advisory Council for Cooperation on Private Security will also change. It will follow the number of authorised representatives of the associations of people who work in the sector.

Until now, only an individual, or a company manager or owner, could order a "personal protection" contract. After the change, a "legal entity" can also order one. The Council of Ministers says in its reasons for the bill that this covers cases where a firm provides personal protection for a manager, owner, employee or other staff member who faces a real threat but cannot pay for the protection himself.

A state fee, set by a tariff, will be charged for issuing certificates. According to the reasons for the bill, the fee should put traders registered in Bulgaria on the same footing as those registered in another EU member state, a country covered by the European Economic Area Agreement, or Switzerland.

MPs rejected a proposal by Anna Bodakova of Democratic Bulgaria (DB) to bar people convicted of sexual offences, including against minors, from private security work, even if they have been rehabilitated. "I believe this way the law will protect more Bulgarian citizens and children," Bozhidar Bozhanov of DB said in the debate.