site.btaLB Bulgaricum Executive Director Comments on Workers' Readiness to Protest for Higher Pay

LB Bulgaricum Executive Director Ivaylo Lilov Wednesday commented for BTA on the readiness of the State-owned dairy company's workers to protest or go on a warning strike over their salaries. In his words, talks could be held about a pay rise, but that will depend on the revenues for 2024. To provide resources, the company first has to cover the losses accumulated by the previous management; in 2023, these amounted to BGN 3 million.

The company's new management took over in October 2023. Actions have already been taken to stabilize LB Bulgaricum financially in order to modernize and renovate the production facilities and everything else needed to ensure its activity.

According to the management's data, the average salary of those working at the production facility in Vidin (on the Danube) was BGN 1,906.88 in October 2023, BGN 1,932.51 in November 2023, and BGN 3,582.23 in December 2023 (inclusive of a Christmas bonus).

Lilov told BTA that on Tuesday, he and Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov  visited the production facility and talked with the workers. The options for modernizing the production process and improving the working conditions were outlined. None of the workers set conditions for that to happen within days, Lilov underscored. "That is why we wish to get officially acquainted with the demands raised today [Wednesday]," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the head of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in the Food Industry, Slavcho Petrov, told journalists that those working for LB Bulgaricum in Vidin are ready to stage a protest rally or warning strikes. The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions circulated a declaration with the workers' specific demands. 

Among the demands are: an increase of base salaries by 30% now and by another 20% in six months; equal base salaries for one and the same position; higher base salaries for technicians; base salaries for shopkeepers in Vidin equal to those in Sofia. Last year, the compensation for the high inflation rate amounted to a pay rise of BGN 50, the declaration reads.