site.btaInternational Forum Discusses Social Dialogue's Importance in Western Balkans, Exchange of Experience in EU Legislation

At a two-day international conference here on Thursday, experts and representatives of institutions, social and employer organizations discussed the strengthening of social dialogue in the Western Balkan countries as an instrument to achieve tangible changes. The forum, organized by the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour, also focused on EU legislation in the social sphere and the experience that Bulgaria could share with the neighbouring countries.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has always shared the understanding that social dialogue is the basis for finding and implementing the most workable solutions in the name of the people, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rumiana Petkova said in a welcome speech on behalf of caretaker Minister of Labour and Social Policy Ivaylo Ivanov. A key driver for improving social partnership in the countries of this region is adapting the best practices of the European Union to the specific regional context, Petkova said. Efforts to strengthen social partnership in the Western Balkans should focus both on ensuring that national legal and regulatory frameworks are in line with EU principles and on promoting a culture of cooperation between the State, employer and employee organisations, she added.

National Employment Agency Executive Director Smilen Vulov said the State's priorities for improving the labour market coincide with social dialogue with the neighbouring countries. According to him, the labour market should not be divided into individual countries of this region, but should be seen as a whole in terms of the fact that these countries are labour donors because of low-paid labour, as well as that there is a demographic crisis.

Economic and Social Council head Zornitsa Rusinova said that Bulgaria is an example of good social dialogue. To a large extent, the legislation concerning income, living standards, and labour market undergoes significant changes after dialogue with employers and trade unions, she said.
Podkrepa President Dimitar Manolov recalled that the  topic of Western Balkans' EU accession was put in the focus of European politics during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Podkrepa International Secretary Vesselin Mitov also believes that the period in which no new Member State has been admitted to the European Union, has already become long. The last enlargement was in May 2013, when Croatia joined the Union, he recalled. According to Mitov, the Western Balkans have a brain drain problem.

The international forum will continue on Friday, when the topics of tolerance and respect in the workplace are expected to be discussed.