site.btaUnions Call Electricity Bill Compensations for Businesses "Gulp of Air", Hope for Wage Increases

The unions commended the government for its decision to compensate businesses for high electricity costs until the end of March 2025. The government made this decision at its first meeting January 23. They commented the matter at a joint news conference with Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov.

The Vice President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, Todor Kapitanov, said that it was "a gulp of air" for the industry and for many non-household users, including schools, kindergartens, social care homes, water companies, medical establishments and cultural institutions. 

He expressed hope that this "gulp of air will be passed on to the workers" as the unions have been assured by employers that no jobs will be shed. He also hopes that the cost slashing will allow businesses to raise wages, improve working conditions and invest in worker training. 

Alexander Zagorov of the Podkrepa Labour Confederation said the compensations are "something of an emergency aid for industry and the economy". He also expressed hope for higher wages for workers, which, in his words, the compensations will allow.

He said that the decision only reduces the imbalance in the energy sector and that more steps need to be taken to eliminate it altogether.