A working group comprising representatives of employers, trade unions and government experts is discussing the proposals of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy for introducing a new mechanism to determine the minimum wage. This is happening a day before the deadline for implementing the Directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union.

The delay in implementing the new rules could lead to an infringement procedure against Bulgaria by Brussels. The ministry's proposals, framed as changes to the Labor Code, have been strongly opposed by the trade unions, unlike the employers who support them. The employers have challenged the current formula for determining the minimum wage in the country before the Supreme Administrative Court. To avoid the infringement procedure, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy proposes that the changes come into effect as of October 15 this year.

• The Confederation of Labour "Podkrepa" strongly criticizes the draft amendments to the Labour Code