Balgarianovinite.com International Workers’ Day was marked in Bulgaria on Friday with a march and messages for fair pay and safety at work.
International Workers’ Day observes the historical struggles of workers and the labour movement on May 1. The day has been observed since 1890 by a resolution passed at the Paris Conference of the Second International in 1899. In Bulgaria, it has been observed since 1890, becoming an official holiday in 1939 and celebrated annually since 1945.
On the occasion, President Iliana Iotova said in a Facebook post: “We celebrate rights fought for over generations. But today, the right to decent work and fair income, justice, and social security are being put to the test – not only in Bulgaria, but globally as well. It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, in a European Bulgaria, the category of the ‘working poor’ still exists; their high number is shameful. Bold and competent politicians are needed, ones who not only speak, but act, to ensure that people of honest labour, people with ability, ambition, and talent, are not suffocated by poverty and crushed self-esteem. On the contrary, their creative power should be encouraged. And that power is in the DNA of the Bulgarian people.”
Caretaker Labour Minister Hasan Ademov said in an interview on Nova TVA that the challenge for the next government is to develop a comprehensive long-term programme for income policy, which should be discussed with social partners. Social benefits must be preserved, Hasan Ademov stressed. According to him, careful consideration is needed regarding support for sectors where incomes are lagging behind. There is no measure that can completely stop inflation, as it is a consequence of what is happening in the economy and the surrounding environment, the Minister noted.
Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev wrote on Facebook: “Happy May Day to all of you who, with talent and dedication, build and protect our homeland.” He called for honouring the labour of others as “it is part of our dignity as human beings.” “Gratitude to the generations who built today’s Bulgaria! To the unyielding people here and around the world to whom we owe today’s welfare state,” Radev added.
While leading a procession on International Workers’ Day in Sofia, Podkrepa Labour Confederation President Dimitar Manolov said his message on the occasion of May 1 is for fair pay, safety at work, and prospects for workers in both the economy and the public sector. The procession was held under the slogan: “Security, jobs, wages! Now!” and was joined by BSP leader Krum Zarkov. Among the challenges facing workers, Manolov pointed to political instability and the turbulence related to the introduction of the euro. All of this affects the standard of living in Bulgaria, because wages are lagging behind prices and this must be corrected, the union leader said. Podkrepa has over 50 proposals related to strengthening the system of collective bargaining, including its introduction in the public administration, where such a mechanism does not currently exist, as well as easing the rules for organizing strikes, which he described as the workers’ most reliable tool, said Manolov.
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) President Plamen Dimitrov told journalists there should be no drastic cuts in expenditures in the 2026 budget. According to him, the deficit could be kept within 3%. Dimitrov does not believe that Bulgaria’s finances are in a catastrophic state. “There are problems, but there is also a record surplus,” he said. CITUB will insist on a 10% increase of incomes, added Dimitrov. A longer and clearer vision for Bulgaria’s industrial development is another demand of the trade union.
On May Day, CITUB presented an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that gives consultations on labour rights. Users will be able to ask questions and receive answers regarding working conditions, income, collective bargaining, and workplace rights. The website is already available, and access to it is free. CITUB said that this is the first union AI assistant in Europe. International Workers’ Day Marked with March, Message for Fair Pay, Safety at Work 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-01 16:39:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law