The labour force in Bulgaria is 85 per cent underpaid

Given the levels of labour productivity and purchasing power in Bulgaria, the labour force is at least 85 per cent underpaid, said Zhelyazko Hristov, President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). He quoted studies of the Institute of Economics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and CITUB experts at the opening of the Union’s Sixth Congress, mottoed „For worthy labour and life in united Europe“ on Friday.

Hristov said the union would work towards an economy with a human face. CITUB will fight for real pay for the value of labour, notwithstanding arguments about the importance of competitiveness, macroeconomic stability and lowering the current account deficit, Hristov said.

Regarding social policy, the trade union will seek to boost human dignity, solidarity and justice in the context of the European social model, using every instrument to influence the incomes policy and deal with inequality, poverty and social exclusion.

A confederal system of training and certification of trade union staff will be introduced, said Hristov. He identified integration into all levels of European social dialogue as a major challenge to CITUB.

Bulgarians have the lowest incomes in the EU, with the minimum wage at 92 euro and the average monthly wage at 182 euro, Hristov said. GDP growth has had no effect on the population and the real wage does not reflect the current economic situation.

Addressing the congress, President Georgi Purvanov said there was room for serious improvement in the social security systems, with businesses, trade unions and civil society putting in their share of work to help the State. He called for investment in the human factor in terms of improved access to, and quality of, health care, education and science, of modern social protection and national insurance. Every prerequisite should be created for the integration and reintegration of disadvantaged people, Purvanov also said.

The guests to the congress include ministers, representatives of local organizations and 60 members of foreign trade unions.

BTA