site.bta Social Policy Minister Kalfin Will Not Concede on Retirement Age for Security Sector Employees

Social Policy Minister Kalfin Will Not Concede on Retirement Age for Security Sector Employees

Sofia, June 12 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and
Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivailo Kalfin told journalists
 in Parliament on Friday that he will not concede on the
retirement age for security sector employees.

Kalfin reacted to plans of police officers, firefighters and
prison guards to stage protests against the measure.

The Deputy PM recalled that last year employees in the security
sector retired at an average age of 52 years and 8 months. A
fortnight ago, the Cabinet approved a bill introducing a
retirement age of 52 years and 10 months for the sector as of
January 1, 2016 and increasing it gradually by two months
annually until it reaches 55 years in 13 years' time. Around
2,000-2,500 people retire in the sector annually, and more than
half of them are aged over 55.

At present there is no age requirement. Military officers and
policemen can retire after a service of 27 years, of which 18
years in the system.

"There can't be exceptions for one social group because I can't
justify why police officers are privileged regarding the
[retirement] age," Kalfin explained. Besides this, the police
would lose the agreed perquisites if the package of measures is
not adopted, he warned.

"I am ready to consider any reasonable proposal yet again, I
have had a lot of talks with the trade unions, and the package
includes quite a few of their proposals except a lower
retirement age," the Labour Minister stressed.

"The reasons for the police protest are of a different nature,
they are rather intended to demonstrate strength against the new
 leadership," Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova commented.
She added that her Ministry's leadership is trying to establish
dialogue with the protestors and hopes to reach understanding on
 at least some of the topics.

"We are aware of their demands for the pension reform but, in
the long run, the bill should be adopted in a version balancing
the interests of all groups and suiting everybody," she said.

As from Friday, police officers, border guards, fire fighters
and prison guards countrywide are launching a ten-day marathon
protest against the new retirement conditions, the structural
changes and the extra border duty stints.

On Friday evening, the security sector employees will protest in
 front of the Interior Ministry building, on Saturday they will
be joined by colleagues from across the country, and on Sunday
they will set up a tent camp in front of Parliament. Under the
law, they may not take strike action. They demand a retirement
age of 50 years for employees working on the ground and 53 years
 for all the rest.