site.bta CITUB Expects Bulgaria to Join European Pillar of Social Rights

CITUB Expects Bulgaria to Join European Pillar of Social Rights

Sofia, May 26 (BTA) - The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) expects Bulgaria to join the European Pillar of Social Rights, said CITUB leader Plamen Dimitrov here on Friday during a forum on social protection and the role of the social partners, organized by CITUB and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

A month ago the European Commission (EC) presented the proposal to have a European Pillar of Social Rights. The goal is to have a fairer functioning of the labour and market and welfare systems. Attention is paid to a number of legislative and non-legislative initiatives, connected to the work-life balance, informed workers, access to social protection and work time.

The importance of fighting inequality was agreed on during the forum, while Dimitrov believes that collective bargaining has proven itself as an effective mechanism and it should be protected on both EU and national level.

CITUB recalled that the recent economic crisis pushed the leading European institutions towards a more comprehensive monitoring of the EU's development through the introduction of an EU annual cycle of economic policy coordination, known as the European Semester. Each year, the Commission conducts a detailed analysis on the different EU Member States' planned budget, macroeconomic and structural reforms, and prepares reports with recommendations for the next 12-18 months.

Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov noted that Bulgaria recently received its recommendations, voicing hope that the Government and the social partners will make maximum efforts to meet one of the recurring recommendations about negotiating a transparent minimum wage mechanism.