Trade unions leader: There is no explanation for the high inflation in Bulgaria, there is a way to reduce prices

There is no explanation for the high inflation of 18% in Bulgaria compared to the EU average of 8-9%, the President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB/CITUB), Plamen Dimitrov, said during the BNT programme "The Day Begins" on September 21. He added that inflation in essential goods is even higher - over 40% on an annual basis.

According to Plamen Dimitrov, prices can be reduced through the actions of regulatory authorities.

"The regulators need to step in as soon as possible. They can manage prices - not administratively, but through transparency in pricing," Dimitrov said.

Since the beginning of the week, CITUB has launched a national protest campaign. The trade union is demanding an update in this year's budget, the minimum wage to raise to 850 BGN from 1 January, civil service salaries to rise by 12 per cent from 2023 and a 12 per cent increase in state pensions from July. The aim is to cover average inflationary costs.

"This is not a strike. This is a campaign to demand inflation compensation before the end of this year. And to save jobs. Now is the time to tell politicians going into elections that the most important thing is people's incomes in this crisis. So we think now is the time to do that. Everything else is important as policies, but this is the most important," he pointed out.