Podcast in English
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.

More from category

Weather forecast: The clouds and rain continue, no rain in the Southwest

On Thursday minimum temperatures will range between 6 and 11° C., for Sofia around 8° C. During the day the weather will continue cloudy and rainy. The rain will be more significant in Eastern Bulgaria, and in the afternoon – in Central Bulgaria...

published on 11/5/25 6:35 PM
Deputy PM Tomislav Donchev

European Commission withholds payment under recovery and resilience plan over failure to implement anti-corruption reforms

The European Commission has decided to withhold EUR 215 million from the second payment under Bulgaria’s recovery and resilience plan, the EC told the Bulgarian National Radio. The country is to receive EUR 439 million. EU may cut money for..

published on 11/5/25 4:39 PM

Parliament sets up ad-hoc committee to investigate Soros’ activities in Bulgaria

With 111 votes for, 51 against and 43 abstained, the National Assembly approved the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the activities of George Soros and his son Alexander Soros and their foundations in this country financing..

published on 11/5/25 3:15 PM