Forty-five people were killed in industrial accidents in January-July 2008, Gulub Donev, Director of the Chief Labor Inspectorate Executive Agency said in Blagoevgrad Thursday.

Responsible for these alarming statistics are both employers who do not provide safe working environment and employees who often do not use protection means and devices, Donev said.

In most cases deaths and traumas are due to electric shock, landslides, falling from high places, falling of unsecured heavy objects on workers, BTA reported.

A National campaign mottoed "Work legally" has been launched, Donev said. Forty mobile teams inspected 459 construction sites, hotels and restaurants and over 1,000 employers in regions within four working days earlier this month.

The inspectors found 1,493 cases of labor law violations, 50 persons without employment contracts, dozens of youngster under legal age employed without permission of the Labor Inspectorate. A total of 191 statements of violation were issued. The operation of 88 construction sites was suspended until removal of the established violations.

It was established that the social and health insurance contributions of almost all hotel and restaurant employees are based on the minimum wage. Catering establishments often work overtime.