Penalties imposed by the boss are illegal if they are in cash, reads a frontpage headline in Monitor newspaper. Penalties for being late for work or for talking over the phone are illegal, according to the Labour Code, the newspaper adds and goes on to quote attorney-at-law Iva Todorova who explains that any financial penalty is a breach of the law. The Labour Code clearly sets down what the penalties can be – reprimand, notice of dismissal and termination of the contract of employment, Monitor adds.

Technical problem, overload or pilot error are probable causes of the Russian TU-154 crash, write today’s papers. They add that famous singers Toto Cutugno and Iosif Kobzon missed the fatal flight. President Rosen Plevneliev and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov have sent messages of condolences, Trud writes.

In the period from the beginning of the year until end-November, the traffic police have caught 984 drivers in gross violation. They all explained their actions with “ignorance”. As it turned out, these drivers had absolutely no idea of the traffic laws in the country, Telegraph writes, quoting Boyko Ranovsky, head of the Traffic Police department. Another 224 drivers have had the licenses suspended for medical reasons.

The Hong Kong flu virus has reached Bulgaria early, with many coming down with it, Trud writes and cautions that soldiering on and going to work sick could lead to severe complications. The Hong Kong virus is now at its peak since it was discovered in 2014 with more and more people reporting sick.

A 14-year old girl has given birth to a baby girl on Christmas in Dobrich, Northeastern Bulgaria. This is her second child, 24 Chassa writes.

Thousands were left without salaries for Christmas, Zemya writes, citing General Labour Inspectorate data. Machines and equipment as well as construction are the spheres with the greatest number of workers left without pay for the holidays.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

English version: Milena Daynova