The government, trade unions and employers signed a National Trilateral Agreement

The Bulgarian government, trade unions and nationally representative employers’ organizations signed a National Trilateral  Agreement. It contains 40 measures in 5 key areas – business environment, the European Green Deal, energy, demography, education, labour market, labour migration and social issues.

As of 2021 the minimum wage will be different for each sector of industry. It will not be administratively determined by the state, instead every year the trade unions and employers’ organizations will agree on the minimum wage by sectors. When this mechanism is introduced, the setting of minimum social security thresholds for the different sectors by the state will also be dropped.

According to the agreement, the maximum insurable income will be determined according to the “golden Swill rule” as of 2022. The minimum insurable income of self-employed persons will also be determined according to the rule.

The agreement also envisages the legislation to be eased in order to facilitate access to the Bulgarian labour market for foreign workers and specialists of Bulgarian origin.

The agreement contains proposals for health and education reforms. There is also a proposal for a higher pay rate for night and overtime work.

A comprehensive reform of the social benefits system will be launched, which will be adequate and will guarantee better spending of funds.

“The most important message for us at BCCI is that at a time when other countries are confused, at a time when they have overspending, at a time when it is not clear whether their budgets will be sufficient or whether they will go further into debt, at a time when it is not clear what direction the measures for overcoming the crisis will go, at that moment Bulgaria with this agreement provides a clear framework for what employers and trade unions want, and measures that can be implemented in the conditions of social peace”, the President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov said.

“This agreement is a message to investors, who will appreciate it accordingly”, Simeonov added.

The full text of the Agreement HERE