site.btaWorker Wages Can Be Increased through Fair Distribution of Business Earnings, Unions Say

Worker Wages Can Be Increased through Fair Distribution of Business Earnings, Unions Say

Montana, Northwestern Bulgaria, October 8 (BTA) - Trade union
leader Plamen Dimitrov was in Montana on Wednesday to present a
new electronic service provided by his Confederation of
Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). The service will
use a special Internet portal to offer CITUB members free advice
on matters concerning their wages, pensions, safety at work and
ways to avert redundancies, among other issues.

Dimitrov gave a news conference after meeting with trade union
executives in Northwestern Bulgaria.

He said staff wages in many companies can be increased if
business earnings are distributed more fairly. At present, only
40 per cent of the revenues earned in the national economy are
used to pay for labour costs, but in countries like Britain,
France and Germany the ratio is between 55 and 60 per cent,
Dimitrov said. "I will advise CITUB's local leaders in the
regions and in individual enterprises to talk with the company
owners and employers about how to distribute the earnings more
fairly," he said.

CITUB expects the new government to state clearly how it is
going to develop the economy, particularly the industrial part.
The unions also want the power-holders to ensure by legislative
means that wages will be subject to collective agreement in
every company.

Discussing the energy sector, Dimitrov said individuals and
businesses should not be expected to make up for the financial
deficit in the electricity system. The latest 10 per cent
increase of the price of electricity can generate an additional
200 million leva in public revenues at most, but it will not
clear up the deficit, he argued. "Individuals and businesses
cannot bear a possible further rise in electricity prices," he
warned. Dimitrov recommended drawing up a new debt management
strategy.

CITUB also proposed an anti-deflation programme, which includes
boosting consumption in many economic sectors. Instead of
keeping their money in the bank, people should be encouraged to
buy goods in order to drive the economy forward, Dimitrov said.