site.btaTrade Union to Stage Nationwide Protest Demanding Higher Wages on October 27

Sofia, October 24 (BTA) - The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) is calling a nationwide protest on October 27 with demands for higher wages.

Among the demands are starting salaries of 700 leva for university graduates working within their field, non-taxable income and decent overtime pay.

Protesters will call for policies that will ge incomes to the average EU level and a minimum working wage which will guarantee social inclusion and normal living expenditures. CITUB also want at least 100 leva added to the wages of all Bulgarians and to keep in place the seniority bonus.

The trade union is calling for an overhaul of the Labour Code which will lay rules for salary fixing and for a tax system which will distribute the burden fairly betweem labour and capital, between the rich and the poor. CITUB see the first step to that as settign non-taxable minimum income equal to the minimum working wage.

CITUB wants legislation to criminalize the increasing violations of the rights of workers to accociate and bargain collectively.

The trade union wants money that will sustain the normal operation of the agencies which overseee and provide services and social protection to citizens, strengthened ocntrol over the enforcement of socak and labour legislation related to safe working conditions, working time, wages and social insurance and guaranteed acccess for every Bulgarian to quality education and healthcare based on social and not on market principles.

The trade union will send a message to the busienss that government requirements for order and trabnsparency on the labour market are not administrative burden but part of democracy and the rule of law. Employers should stop the attacks against the cost of labour and accept that there is no alternative to increasing working wages. Potential for economic growth should be sought elsewhere from low labour costs.