ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Businesses and trade unions fail to reach agreement on 2026 minimum wage

Photo: BNR-Vidin

Talks on Bulgaria’s 2026 minimum wage ended without agreement between businesses and trade unions at the Commission on Incomes and Living Standards under the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation. A new round of discussions is scheduled for 6 October due to the lack of consensus, public broadcaster BNR Horizont reported.

The government has proposed raising the minimum wage to 1,213 levs (€620.20) from 1,077 levs (€550) as of 1 January. The country’s two main trade unions back the plan, while two employers’ organisations – the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria – oppose it, according to Atanas Katsarchev, chief economist at the Podkrepa Labour Confederation.

The unions argue that an increase is necessary as Bulgaria lags significantly behind other EU members and ranks lowest in terms of minimum pay. But Vasil Velev, head of the general assembly of the Association of Industrial Capital, said the minimum wage is outpacing productivity growth tenfold and that the rise should be delayed.


Editor: Miglena Ivanova
Posted in English by E. Radkova

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.
Radio Bulgaria News    business council for tripartite cooperation minimum wage talks unions

More from category

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov supports the peace plan for Ukraine

“Borders cannot be changed by force, and Ukraine’s long-term security must be guaranteed”, Bulgaria’s Premier Rossen Zhelyazkov said during a videoconference meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”, led by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK..

published on 11/26/25 8:57 AM

Bulgaria and China discuss cooperation in the automotive sector

Business forum on the topic "Bulgaria - China: cooperation in the automotive sector" is being held on November 26 in Sofia. Its organizers are the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Embassy of the People's Republic of..

published on 11/26/25 7:30 AM

Draft budget 2026 sparks protests

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association has called for participation in a protest on November 26 against the budget for 2026, which is about to be adopted at second reading. "We call not only our members, but also all..

published on 11/26/25 6:50 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 12
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 13
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 9
Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 11
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"