site.btaTrade Union Sets Goals of Having 1,700 Leva Average Wage, 800 Leva Minimum Wage in 2022

Trade Union Sets Goals of Having 1,700 Leva Average Wage, 800 Leva Minimum Wage in 2022

Sofia, May 1 (BTA) - The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) has set it as its goals to have an average wage of 1,700 leva and a minimum wage of 800 leva by 2022, CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov said Monday, speaking at a national conference on work pay and protection of work rights. At the moment the average monthly salary is 962 leva, and the minimum wage, 460 leva.

Dimitrov said that the goals are achievable if the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increases by 4.5 - 5 per cent annually, meaning that the average wage should grow by 120-150 leva annually in the next five years, and the minimum wage, by 50-60 leva.

Dimitrov said also that in the 27 years since the transition to democracy, the GDP has regained and surpassed the 1990 values. Last year it was 50 per cent higher than in 1990 at comparable prices, he said. The actual average salary grew by 5-6 per cent during this period. In the past five years it increased by more than 37 per cent in real terms. The CITUB President said that more than 70 per cent of the working people in Bulgaria draw less than average wages.

Caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Galab Donev said that from 2007, when Byulgaria joined the EU, to 2016, the average wage increased to 962 leva, from 431 leva, or 123 per cent. The minimum wage increased to 460 leva, from 180 leva, or 156 per cent.