site.btaTrade Union Calls for Increase of Minimum Working Wage, Poverty Threshold

Sofia, October 14 (BTA) - As of November 1, the minimum working wage can be set at 700 leva, said Confederation of independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) President Plamen Dimitrov at a meeting with the leadership of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) on Thursday. The trade union further requested that the minimum working wage become 760 leva from January 1 2022, up from 650 leva.

CITUB also want an update the poverty threshold to 460 leva from December 1 by a Council of Ministers decree. It can be done without working legislature, said Dimitrov. Now the threshold is set at 369 leva.

The CITUB President also called for urgent compensation for all businesses because of the skyrocketing prices of electricity and natural gas. "For us it is important that households are compensated too although they buy electricity on the regulated market," he added.

According to him, revising the poverty threshold and the compensation for businesses will require an update of the 2021 budget.

Of the 2022 budget the trade union said that incomes may be increased by 12-13 per cent on average and that the minimum working wage may be increased by 17-18 per cent.

The BSP's proposals included reduction of the VAT rate for еenergy sources and for foods in the small consumer basket from 20 per cent to 9 per cent.

Earlier in the day BSP leader Kornelia Ninova met with representatives of the branch organizations of Bulgarian bread makers, meat, milk, wine and beverage producers. Participants discussed the problems of small and medium-sized businesses resulting from the increase in the price of electricity, natural gas, raw materials, transportation and logistics.

The producers proposed a special energy package for companies working on the Bulgarian market.

The BSP is holding a series of meetings on anti-crisis measures and the 2022 budget as part of preparations of urgent measures to be implemented in the first 100 days of governances.