site.btaPodkrepa, GERB Meet, Trade Union Hopeful about 2016 Draft Budget Revisions

Podkrepa, GERB Meet, Trade Union Hopeful about 2016 Draft Budget Revisions

Sofia, November 5 (BTA) - Representatives of the Podkrepa Labour Confederation and the leadership of the GERB parliamentary group met on Thursday to discuss the draft national budget and the budgets of the National Social Security Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund for 2016.

After the meeting Podkrepa President Dimiter Manolov said that his trade union raised the issue of the low unemployment daily allowance, which hasn't been updated in years along with maternity leave after the first year and the low wages of employees at the National Social Security Institute. Manolov said that GERB as the largest parliamentary group had shown understanding and that gave him ground for optimism.

Also, the trade union raised the issue of the public health tax. Manolov said that the trade union is going to meet Health Minister Peter Moskov on Friday. Podkrepa plans to hold talks about the 2016 budget draft with the other parliamentary groups.

GERB floor leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov told journalists that Podkrepa requested to meet GERB first as the largest parliamentary group. Attending the meeting was Menda Stoyanova, chair of the parliamentary budget committee. Tsvetanov said that education, health care and protests in the security sector featured on the agenda.

Tsvetanov said that the door is left open to discussion on all issues and that the executive in dialogue with the trade unions will be able to adopt a sensible and good budget.