site.btaJustice Minister Meets with Prison Officers; 24-Hour Duty to Be Partially Reintroduced in Prisons

ESD 15:45:30 08-09-2014
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119 HOME AFFAIRS - JUSTICE MINISTER - PRISON OFFICERS - MEETING

Justice Minister Meets with
Prison Officers; 24-Hour Duty to
Be Partially Reintroduced in Prisons


Sofia, September 8 (BTA) - The Justice Ministry yielded to the
demands of prison officers' trade unions: a mixed regime of duty
will be introduced in 80 per cent of the detention facilities
in Bulgaria. This transpired after a Monday meeting between
Caretaker Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov and trade unions of
prison officers.

The mix regime envisages some of the officers to work on 12-hour
shifts and others on 24-hour shifts, as the trade unions
demand. Ivanov admitted that this step is a retreat from the
order which was in force thus far and which put an end to the
practice of prison officers' 24-hour duty.

Trade union leader Ivan Petrov apologized publicly for the
behaviour of protesting prison officers on September 5, who
booed Ivanov in front of the Justice Ministry and demanded his
resignation.

According to Ivanov, however, the situation with the mixed
regime cannot continue forever, and the next parliament and
justice minister should elaborate new criteria for this
problem's solution.

Checks in all detention facilities showed that not all prison
officers want to work on 24-hour shifts, and the most
overpopulated prisons are those in Bourgas (on the Black Sea)
and Stara Zagora (South Central Bulgaria). It is being
considered whether to close down the facilities in Petrich
(Southwestern Bulgaria) and Oryahovo (on the Danube).

SN/DS