Social workers will stage a protest on November 27

A one-hour strike is being prepared by social workers from 35 Social Assistance Directorates across the country. It is planned to be held on November 27. Their demands are for a 40% pay rise.

The starting salary, which a young university graduate receives when joining the social service, is BGN 650, which with deductions gets close to the minimum wage for the country. Therefore, there is a shortage of personnel. The average age of social workers in Veliko Turnovo is 50 years.

Vasilka Yordanova, Chair of the Trade Union Section of "Podkrepa" at the Social Assistance Directorate, V. Tarnovo, said that young people do not stay in the job. Social workers have not been hired in large numbers for 10 years because the work is not attractive and the remunerations are not good, ashe added.

Social workers hope their salaries will be increased before next year's budget is voted. If this does not happen, they are also inclined to take effective strike action.