site.btaTrade Unions: Additional Lv 26 Mln Needed for Bulgaria's Cultural Institutions in 2016

Trade Unions: Additional Lv 26 Mln Needed for Bulgaria's Cultural Institutions in 2016

Sofia, November 24 (BTA) - Around 26 million additional leva are needed for museums, galleries and libraries in Bulgaria next year, said the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Podkrepa Labour Confederation during a joint news conference, held on the occasion of the day of discontent, which the two trade unions declared on Tuesday.

CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov said there will be different protests across the whole country over the miserable pay for employees in the sector, which have not been updated in years. Highly qualified specialists are currently working in these institutions for a monthly salary of 400-550 leva, while their younger colleagues' salaries will be raised to 420 leva next year, due to the minimum wage increase for highly qualified staff.

According to Dimitrov, these 26 million leva are needed to increase wages and carry out reforms in the sector.

The people in libraries, museums and galleries can not be loud, because one goes in there quietly and with respect. This, however, does not mean that they should not be heard, Podkrepa Labour Confederation President Dimiter Manolov said.

A total of 4,600 people are currently working in museums, galleries and libraries across the country.