Trade unions demand indexation of incomes with the inflation rate

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB/CITUB), together with their colleagues from "Podkrepa" trade union are preparing proposals that they will give on the first working day to the new MPs of the 48th National Assembly. Their demands are for indexation of incomes with the percentage of official inflation rate since the beginning of the year.

According to the union's data, wages in the private sector have so far been increased by 17 %, in the service sector by 15% cent, but state-dependent units are seriously lagging behind in this respect. Organised strike action is being prepared if the unions' demands are not heard by the caretaker and new regular governments.

On October 7 in Bulgaria’s second largest city of Plovdiv, members of CITUB blocked traffic for an hour on a key boulevard on the occasion of the World Day for Decent Work.

"We believe that before 2023, there should be an increase of between 12 and 15% and the minimum wage should become 850 BGN. It is exactly half the average wage for 2022, as the EU directive says. These are the key demands. In addition to these, we have a social demand - to absorb the scope of people who receive heating benefits, which are about 300, 000 families. Secondly, we want energy compensation for non-domestic consumers to be maintained. In this way, jobs can be preserved. If this compensation disappears, the business claims that between 80,000 and 100,000 people will be laid off in just a month or two," said Plamen Dimitrov.