Trade unions, employers and government discuss draft state budget for 2019

Trade unions, employers' organisations and representatives of the government are discussing the draft state budget for 2019 at the Council of Ministers on 26^th of October.

The tripartite council meeting includes three items on the agenda: the state budget for 2019; the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the budget for thestate social security.

The Minister of Finance, Vladislav Goranov, presented the main priorities of the government for next year: raising public sector income by 10%, including in the justice system; increasing teachers' salaries by 20% to 1,860 BGN of the average teacher's salary in 2021; defence, the social sphere and education are priority sectors.

Goranov paid special attention to the expected more revenues in the coming year from the entry of the road toll system, the future revenue from the concessioner at Sofia Airport and the increase of the revenues in the energy system.

Health Minister Kiril Ananiev presented the budget for the Health Insurance Fund. At present, the planned spending is over 5 billion BGN, which is close to 5% of GDP. The goals are to improve diagnostics, medical emergency assistance and improve the quality of medical services.

Minister Ananiev said that for the next year, the government will seek to make the system more effective and all medical establishments to have equal access to state funding.

Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Bisser Petkov, presented the parametres of the social security budget. As of January 1, the minimum wage will reach 560 BGN. As of July 1, an increase in the maximum pension is expected to BGN 1200, which means an increase in the maximum income subject to social security contributions.

The controversial issues that are expected to be discussed today are the tax burden, the social security and the raising of income.