Trade unions demand 18.7% rise in wages by the end of the year

Trade unions in Bulgaria seek an 18.7% increase in income by the end of the year. Thus, they say, households will be compensated for the high inflation.

Annual inflation reaches 18.7% in September, statistics

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB/CITUB) and "Podkrepa" are demanding a meeting with President Rumen Radev to present their demands for Budget 2023, energy and the green transition.

The two unions also want the minimum wage next year to rise to 850 BGN and a minimum 12.5% increase in wages in the private and public sectors. The unions are also demanding that a definition of vulnerable energy consumers be adopted by the end of the year.

"20 commodities that we monitor on a monthly basis have already passed 50% price rise on an annual basis. So, we have to extend next year to compensate the incomes so that people can see how they will make ends meet," said Plamen Dimitrov - President of CITUB.

"The National Assembly should definitely create a budget. Whether it will do it is another question, but it must do it, because it will be a horror for the state if we have to work with 1/12 of this year's budget," said Dimitar Manolov - President of the Trade Union "Podkrepa".