site.btaInterior Minister Ilkov Optimistic That Cabinet’s Actions Will Meet Expectations of Dissatisfied Employees

Commenting on the actions of the Trade Union Federation of the Employees in the Ministry of Interior (TUFEMI) and the Trade Union of Employees in Prisons in Bulgaria (TUEPB), which voiced their readiness to stage protest, demanding higher wages as of January 1, 2025, caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov said he is optimistic that the cabinet we will be able to implement the law in a way that will meet the expectations of the dissatisfied Interior Ministry employees. Ilkov was taking questions from reporters at the Police Officer of the Year award ceremony in Sofia on Tuesday.

In an official statement on Monday, TUFEMI and TUEPB are displeased that, according to them, there are attempts from third parties to pit the Interior Ministry against other sectors and the pensioners over the Interior Ministry’s pay rise demands. At the beginning of 2024, Parliament adopted amendments to the Ministry of the Interior Act introducing a salary-setting mechanism for the lowest positions held in the Interior Ministry structure, effective from January 1, 2025.

"From the beginning of next year, we will have additional responsibilities at the EU's external border. [...] We are making the appropriate arrangements, interacting directly with all our European partners so as to ensure a secure EU external border and the peace of Bulgarian citizens both in the country and in Schengen," Ilkov added.

On December 12, the Council of the EU decided that checks at the land Schengen borders of Bulgaria and Romania will be lifted from January 1, 2025.