site.btaNational Statistical Institute Chair Says His Colleagues Have Every Right to Protest

National Statistical Institute (NSI) Chair Atanas Atanasov told journalists on Monday that his colleagues have every right to protest over their wages, which he said were among the lowest in Bulgaria's state administration. He noted that wages in the regional offices of NSI are the penultimate lowest of all in state administration. 

Atanasov pointed out that there were no changes in wages in 2023 and no change in capital and maintenance expenditures of NSI.

He said that the protests are labour ones, and not political. According to him, NSI employees are determined to protest until there is a truly significant increase.

In response to a question about whether authorities had extended an invitation to discuss specific demands, Atanasov said no such invitation had been extended.

Trade union representative Raya Petrova said that demands include at least BGN 500 increase per wage per person. 

She pointed out that there are people seriously engaged in scientific work at NSI, and that the facilities are not up to date with employees' needs, giving as an example the computers they work with.

Petrova noted that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, employees had stopped receiving any work supplies. 

She called on Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov to hold a meeting with NSI employees and management.

Asked what an effective strike would look like, Petrova said that the NSI can make it difficult for the government to access necessary data, thus making it data-poor. 

She stressed that NSI staff is ready to protest in November and December too. Petrova added that NSI "is a friend" to teh state and the business.