site.btaTrade Union Proposes Labour Code Amendments

106 ECONOMY - LABOUR CODE - PROPOSALS

Trade Union Proposes
Labour Code
Amendments


Sofia, January 31 (BTA) - The Podkrepa Confederation of Labour proposes amendments to the Labour Code concerning night work, cumulative working time and an employer's refusal to negotiate for a collective agreement. The proposals have been published on the union's website, podkrepa.org. Podkrepa is participating in a working group on labour legislation revisions, established at the end of last year on the initiative of Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov.

According to the union, night work should not exceed 21 hours per week. The current limit is 35 hours per week. The change is necessary because medical scientists have proven that doing night work on a regular basis is damaging to health and the quality of life, Podkrepa argues.

Cumulative working time should not be allocated for more than four months, according to Podkrepa. The current limit is six months. The allocation of cumulative working time should be allowed only when the working hours are not fixed or when the work process is intermittent.

The union further proposes revoking the six-month time limit for an employee's right to compensation for unlawful dismissal from work.

Violations of the provisions concerning an employer's obligation to negotiate with their employees should carry a fine of 5,000 to 15,000 leva, and the company official responsible for the violation should be fined between 1,000 and 5,000 leva, Podkrepa says. LY/VE

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