site.btaReduced 2015 Budget for Defence May Lead to Some 4,600 Layoffs

Reduced 2015 Budget for  Defence May Lead to  Some 4,600 Layoffs


Sofia, February 23 (BTA) - If the budget for defence is not
updated and the reduced expenditures for the Defence Ministry's
personnel remain unchanged, the ministry will have to lay off
around 4,600 service members and civilian employees, Defence
Minister Nikolay Nenchev told a news conference Monday. He
reported on the work done during his first 100 days in office.

The 2015 National Budget Act set the Defence Ministry's budget
at 978 million leva and, according to the forecast, this sum
will remain the same in the next two years. The ministry's
expenditures for 2015 are by approximately 86 million leva less
compared to 2014. In the part concerning the Defence Ministry's
personnel, the reduction is by 77 million leva. As at December
31, 2014, the ministry has obligations amounting to some 119
million leva.

In Nenchev's words, the reduction by 77 million leva could not
be compensated only by the structures outside of the Bulgarian
army, which means that the circumstances would inevitably
require layoffs in the army. This will happen if the budget is
not updated and the Defence Ministry cannot provide the
resources needed, Nenchev specified. He added that they will
look for all kinds of options to avoid further layoffs in the
army.