Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Trade unions in Bulgaria expect a jump in gray economy due to Covid-19

Photo: Archive

The gray economy in Bulgaria in 2019 accounted for 21% of the country's GDP, data from the National Statistical Institute reveals. It amounts to 11.5 billion euros. This money is outside the social and health care system. In the conditions of a Covid-19 pandemic, this share is expected to grow, said the leader of the CITUB trade union Plamen Dimitrov on the occasion of the Week of Action in the European Campaign for Declared Labour.

Bulgaria's state budget loses 200m euros a year from undeclared work. Dimitrov noted that it also exists in the light economy. Employees have employment contracts and social security payments, but work extra hours that are not paid by the employer. "Whoever works in the gray sector, cuts his or her own rights," the unions warn, BGNES reports.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgaria calls for the construction of a bridge over the Danube at Silistra–Călărași

''Only two bridges connect Bulgaria and Romania along our 475-kilometer shared river border – this is a transport shortfall and a new 'Iron Curtain' within the European Union'', said Bulgaria’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and..

published on 10/17/25 9:05 AM

Cloudy weather, rainfall expected in Bulgaria on Friday

On Friday, the minimum temperatures in Bulgaria will be from 6 to 11°C, in Sofia – 7°C.  During the day, it will be cloudy over most of the country. In the afternoon, rain will begin in Western Bulgaria, in the mountains above 2,000 meters - snow, and..

published on 10/16/25 7:25 PM

South Africa introduces visa-free regime for Bulgarians for stays of up to 90 days

The government of South Africa is introducing a visa-free regime for Bulgarian citizens holding ordinary passports for stays of up to 90 days , the Embassy of Bulgaria in Pretoria announced on its Facebook page. “We express our gratitude to the..

published on 10/16/25 4:16 PM