site.btaUPDATED National Statistical Institute Employees Hold Nation Wide Protests

Workers and staff at the National Statistical Institute (NSI) are starting a series of protests across the country as a move towards effective strike action, the Podkrepa Labour Confederation said on Tuesday. The first planned protest was on Wednesday ( October 11) from 8:00 to 8:30 in front of the NSI buildings across the country. 

The protest was supported by NSI President Atanas Atanasov. He came out among the dissatisfied employees and said that he agreed with their demands. 

Podkrepa points out that the government has not listened to the demands for wage increases of employees in national statistics during their protest actions in July 2023. "The 2023 Budget did not provide for wage increases and in September the Prime Minister called on statistics workers for 'a little patience'. But patience ran out long ago," the union said. 

In 2015 and 2020, wages were increased by the lowest percentage (3% to 4%), and during the pandemic crisis by up to 30%, and only for staff conducting face-to-face household surveys. In December 2022, everyone's wages have been increased by 11%, but they are still significantly behind, the union says.

The average salary in the NSI is below BGN 1,300, and often statisticians in territorial divisions receive salaries below BGN 1,000, despite being highly qualified, with higher education and foreign language skills. Podkrepa is demanding an increase in salaries equally for all employees, by at least 50% in the "personnel costs" item, or BGN 11.5 million on an annual basis.