Balgarianovinite.com Proposed Labour Code amendments introducing hourly calculation of length of service and a planned increase in toll charges dominated the debate during the second reading of the 2026 State Budget Bill in the National Assembly on Thursday.
At the proposal of Continue the Change leader Assen Vassilev, the parliamentary Budget Committee approved delaying the entry into force of the Labour Code amendments until the beginning of next year, instead of by September 1 this year as originally envisaged.
During the plenary debate, Vassilev described the governing majority’s proposal on hourly calculation of working time and the effective halving of length of service and annual leave entitlements, as “bad news” and “ill-conceived”. He noted that the budget earmarks EUR 24.6 million in additional revenue from higher toll charges while allocating EUR 50 million in compensation to the road transport sector. “Wouldn’t it be easier not to raise the toll charges and not have to compensate them?” Vassilev asked.
He also said the draft budget does not include a business support scheme providing compensation for high electricity prices. The measure was included in the Budget Extension Act and will expire once the new budget is adopted, leaving the government without a mechanism to respond if another energy crisis arises, he added.
Konstantin Prodanov (Progressive Bulgaria), Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, said that many of those working between four and seven hours a day are employed in the hotel and restaurant sector, construction and manufacturing, rather than belonging to vulnerable social groups. “Whether four plus four equals eight is regulated by ordinance, and if any issues arise from the implementation of this provision, they will be resolved there to ensure that workers are not disadvantaged,” he said.
Commenting on support for the transport sector, Prodanov said the assistance is linked to higher toll charges introduced under a European directive and that the previous two governments had already committed to providing compensation to transport operators. He noted that toll charges are paid not only by Bulgarian hauliers but also generate substantial revenue from international transport operators.
Regarding energy support, Prodanov said the Budget Extension Act already provides for energy assistance. In addition, there is a notified state aid scheme for energy-intensive enterprises that is ready to be activated if necessary, he added.
Georg Georgiev (GERB-UDF) drew attention to what he described as a significant reduction in funding for diplomacy at a time of a complex international situation. “For the first time, diplomats will have funds taken away from them. Suspending the additional material incentives is not a saving,” said Georgiev, who is former foreign minister.
According to him, diplomats’ incomes would effectively be reduced by 20%, even though their average salaries are already only in the three-figure range. He added that the Budget Committee had rejected his proposal to allocate an additional EUR 6.178 million for the remuneration of diplomatic and consular staff.
Nadezhda Yordanova (Democratic Bulgaria) said her parliamentary group could not support the section of the budget relating to the judiciary. The ex-justice minister noted that the proposal envisages increasing the judiciary’s budget by 7.66% compared with 2025, while GDP is forecast to grow by 2.66%. “Does this mean Bulgarian citizens are receiving better justice? That is not the case,” Yordanova said. Proposed Hourly Length of Service Rule and Toll Charges Dominate Budget Debate 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-23 18:24:53 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