site.btaSalaries of Railway Workers to Be Raised in January 2024

The salaries of those employed by Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) and National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC) will be raised as of January 1, 2024, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said in a press release. NRIC and BDZ Passenger Services employees will get a 19.6% pay rise and BDZ Cargo, a 10% rise as of January and another 9.6% as of April 2024. This became possible through additional resources under the 2024 state budget.

At a meeting with railway workers from across Bulgaria some two months ago, Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov committed to seek options for an increase of their salaries and an improvement of their working conditions. This increase is now a fact and as of January 2024, nearly 18,000 employees will work in better conditions, the Gvozdeikov said after the budget for the Transport Ministry was adopted, the press release reads.

A collective bargaining agreement has already been signed between the BDZ management and trade unions setting an increase by 19.62% for the salaries of those working for Holding BDZ and BDZ Passenger Services. The pay rise at BDZ Cargo will happen in two stages: by 10% as of early 2024 and by 9.62% as of April 2024. The resources for food vouchers are increased by BGN 50 to BGN 200 for all employees of BDZ.

After the January increase, the minimum salary of a train driver will be BGN 1,654, of a train manager BGN 1,519, of a train station manager BGN 1,725, and of a worker in charge of railway operability BGN 2,001.