BULGARIANS STILL THE POOREST IN EUROPE – DATA FROM TRADE UNIONS

Bulgaria is still among the poorest countries in Europe because of the low salaries, according to data from the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria.

Although unemployment dropped to 9.1% in 2015, about 40% of the people who found jobs were unable to escape the “poverty trap”. At the same time, the difference between the income of the poorest and the richest in Bulgaria is growing - the rich are more than 7 times wealthier.

The trade union calculated that a four-member family of two adults and two children needed 2,230 BGN per month or approximately 557 BGN per person to cover their living expenses and live without deprivations.

However, more than 77.6% of the households in Bulgaria live below this threshold and only 22.4% are above it.

According to data from the trade union, families who live with 1,186 BGN per month i.e. with 296.50 BGN per person can be described as living in absolute poverty. The percentage of such people in Bulgaria as at the end of May was 29.9%.

The average salary in 2015 was 894 BGN - 930 BGN in the public sector and 880 BGN in the private sector. The largest number of people with minimum income live in the regions of Vidin (Northern Bulgaria), Blagoevgrad and Smolyan (Southern Bulgaria). According to the unions, increase in salaries is the main solution to avoid poverty.