Balgarianovinite.com Bulgaria has labour legislation that provides strong protection for workers compared with other Eastern European countries and the European Union, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) President Plamen Dimitrov said on the occasion of the union’s 36th anniversary on February 17. Over the past 36 years, CITUB has worked to gain public trust and to promote decisions benefiting people, particularly in economic and social terms, he said.
Dimitrov noted that there had been both successes and setbacks in efforts to improve labour rights and legislation. He added that Bulgaria remains the poorest EU country despite incomes doubling over the past five to six years. As an example, he cited the minimum wage increase to EUR 620.20 as of January 1, 2026, compared with just over BGN 600 after the COVID-19 pandemic. Average incomes have also risen significantly, he said.
CITUB expects the procedure for drafting and adopting the 2026 state budget to begin so that demands for higher public-sector wages can be submitted, Dimitrov said, adding that a regular budget could be adopted by mid-year. Until then, another extension of the current budget will likely be needed in March. The union’s minimum demand was a 10% wage increase, or about EUR 1 billion in additional funding, while the currently planned 5% rise does not cover all sectors, he noted, adding that employees in education, science, municipal healthcare and culture may not receive sufficient increases.
Due to the lack of wage growth, higher electricity bills at the start of the year and rising consumer prices, Dimitrov forecast growing social tensions. He also commented on proposals to guarantee Christmas and Easter pension supplements by law, saying such payments should target pensioners below the poverty line and be financed directly from the state budget rather than social security contributions.
From the outset, CITUB has supported Bulgaria’s membership in the euro area, mainly because of wage growth observed in countries that adopted the euro, Dimitrov said. However, purchasing power and price levels are equally important, he added, noting that CITUB’s small consumer basket of 20 essential goods rose by 3.6%. Dairy products in Bulgaria have long been more expensive than in other European countries, which he attributed to unfair practices rather than the euro. Inspections and sanctions against unjustified price increases should continue, he said, adding that regulators must restore public trust. He also praised the Bulgarian National Bank and commercial banks for handling the currency changeover process “brilliantly”.
On the labour market, Dimitrov called for discussion of proposed amendments to the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act, which were published for public consultation without review by the relevant advisory council. He warned that increasing quotas could lead to liberalization allowing the import of workers without permanent employment. CITUB is not opposed to hiring foreign workers where businesses need them, but such policies should not undermine the domestic labour market or create conditions for wage dumping, he said. Workers from third countries should have permanent employment to guarantee their rights. Dimitrov also suggested using opportunities among Bulgarian communities in Ukraine and Moldova, saying people with Bulgarian identity could contribute to lasting demographic and economic growth. Trade Union Leader: Bulgaria Provides Strong Labour Protection 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-17 07:47:44 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