site.btaFinance Minister: Budget Will Strike Balance between Physical and Social Security

Finance Minister:Budget Will Strike Balance between Physical and Social Security

Sofia, July 28 (BTA) - A balance will be sought between physical and social security at the drafting of the budget for 2017, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said at roundtable talks on social services, organized by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB).

Goranov noted that separate public-financed sectors wish that their costs would grow faster than the economy, which is impossible in the context of the surrounding security environment, which requires considerable spending on security strengthening.

Goranov said that he attaches priority to the problems in the social services sector but that it is too early to be more specific about the financing of these services given that the government is still at a very early stage in the budget drafting procedure. He assured, however, that the allocation will exceed the spring forecast.

CITUB insisted on at least ten per cent increase of the salaries in the sector with priority to the specialized personnel. The trade union insists on a 25 per cent increase of the uniform financial standard for social services for 2017 and a higher standard for the family-type social services, which will allow to improve the care for the people in these facilities, CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov said.

CITUB publicized data showing that the a social worker draws 590 leva, a nurse - 560 leva, a logopedist - 600 leva, a rehabilitator - 580 leva, a supervisor - 540 leva, a pedagogues - 554 leva and a psychologist - 542 leva. The social workers in the specialized institutions for the provision of social services draw only 560 leva.

Social Minister Zornitsa Roussinova recalled that a Social Services Bill is being drafted at the moment. The Ministry's experts work on an overall revision of the standards, which is key to the increasing of payments and the provision of a high-quality service, the Minister noted.