CITUB trade union insists on pay rise

After release of statistical data for almost 5% inflation rate for the year, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB) reports a significant increase in some food and non-food products in 2021 compared to 2020. The union is demanding a discussion on urgent measures for financial compensation of families and a stable income policy. They called on employers and workers to insist on accelerated wage increase.

The CITUB survey tracks the prices of 35 food and non-food essentials in 27 districts in Bulgaria at the end of October.

Compared to prices in August, there is no significant increase, but on an annual basis the increase is significant. Potatoes, carrots, cabbage, red pepper, tomatoes and cucumbers have become more expensive. The price of bread is gradually rising - on an annual basis the increase is 5.5%.

The record increase is in the price of sunflower oil – by 43%. Currently, the price of sunflower oil in shops is between BGN 3 and 5 per litre. At the same time there is a good harvest of sunflower in the country and in Europe. Sunflower oil prices are falling on international markets. The Committee on Commodity Exchanges and Markets believes that the main reason for the more expensive sunflower oil at the moment is the crisis with energy resources and to some extent traders not lowering the prices.

Due to the rise in price of essential goods, as well as due to the rise in energy prices, CITUB proposed urgent measures to support income.

We insist that the minimum wage be increased to BGN 700 from November 1 this year through a new budget update, and from January next year to increase to BGN 764, said Lyuboslav Kostov, CITUB.

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria insists that as of December 1, the poverty line be updated to BGN 460 and on this basis all social payments to support vulnerable groups be recalculated. According to the trade union, almost 24% of the population or 1,660,000 people are currently below the poverty line in Bulgaria.

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