Bulgaria’s caretaker government increases minimum wage above 1000 leva-mark

At a regular meeting on October 23, Bulgaria’s caretaker cabinet decided that from January 1, the minimum wage is to be 1074 leva a month, the first time that the sum has exceeded the 1000-leva mark.

The new minimum wage is 144 leva more than the current 933 leva, an increase of 15.4 per cent.

The minimum wage was set in line with amendments to the Labour Code, passed by Parliament, that said that it must be 50 per cent of the average salary.

Ahead of the caretaker cabinet’s decision, both the private sector associations and trade union federations were dissatisfied with the proposal.

The private sector associations say that the methodology for setting the minimum wage is flawed, while the unions wanted the sum to be higher.

Bulgaria has until November 15 to come in line with the European Commission’s directive on the minimum wages in the EU.

(Archive photo: Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry)

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