Tripartite Council approves extension of anti-crisis measures

The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation extended the validity of the 60/40 anti-crisis measure until 31 March.The measure is applicable to workers and employees who, in the period from 13 March until 31 December 2020, worked part-time, were furloughed, or had to take unpaid leave due to the temporary restrictions introduced. The state support remains 60% of the insurable earnings and 60% of the social security contributions for which the employer is liable. The compensation under the “Retain me” measure is to go up as of 1 January.  During involuntary downtime of up to 60 days, instead of 12 euro per day, the compensation will constitute 75% of the worker’s insurable earnings, BTA reports. 

Pensions continue to rise following “Swiss rule”

Employment and social pensions will continue to go up following the so-called “Swiss rule” as of 1 July, 2022 and 2023 by 5.5% and 5.6% respectively, reads an analysis by the National Social Security Institute on the Covid-19 pandemic and the social security system. This means that as of 1 July, 2022 the minimum contributory service and retirement-age pension will reach 316.50 Leva /162 euro/ per month, and as of 1 July, 2023 – 334.22 Leva /171 euro/ per month. The social old-age pension will reach 159 Leva /81 EURO/ per month as of 1 July, 2022 and 165.68 Leva /85 euro/ per month as of 1 July, 2023. The upper limit on pensions remains 1,440 Leva /716 euro/ per month.

Bulgaria reports 337 new cases of Covid-19

Bulgaria has registered 337 new cases of coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours. Most of them are in Sofia - 72, Varna - 28, and Shumen - 24. This is shown by the data of the Unified Information Portal, updated at midnight. 14.23% of the 2,369 tests performed returned positive. Of these, 1,012 were PCR tests and 1,357 were antigen tests. 189 positive results were detected by PCR and 148 by antigen tests. In the past day, 87 people have died and 1,475 have recovered. A total of 5,511 patients with coronavirus are currently treated in hospital, of which 504 are in intensive care units.

Long lines of vehicles form at border as Turkey set to introduce PCR tests

Long lines of vehicles bound for Edirne formed at Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint on the Bulgarian-Turkish border, as Turkey is set to introduce mandatory PCR tests for arrivals in the country as of 11 PM tonight. The number of Bulgarians travelling to Turkey for shopping has soared in the last remaining hours in which the country can be entered without a PCR test. Turkey is a favourite shopping destination for Bulgarians, with the depreciation of the Turkish Lira an additional stimulus. The peak at Kapitan Andreevo was reached yesterday, a public holiday in Bulgaria, when 18,000 passengers crossed over into Turkey in around 8,000 vehicles, BNT reports. 

Compiled by: Gergana Mancheva

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