Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarians will continue to work for the lowest mnimum wage in the EU

Photo: BGNES

The net minimum wage in Bulgaria from 2026 will be 970 leva (467 euros), and the gross minimum wage will be 1,287 leva (620 euros). It will be the lowest in the entire EU. This was told to bTV by Plamen Dimitrov, president of the largest trade union in the country CITUB.
Maria Mincheva, deputy chairwoman of the Bulgarian Industrial Association, pointed out that this will be a minimum wage for a person without work experience and seniority bonuses. She challenged the CITUB position with the argument that labor productivity in Bulgaria is also the lowest in the EU. Productivity should drive the economy, not just consumption growth, said Mincheva and insisted on changing the formula for calculating the minimum wage.

According to Eurostat data, the minimum wage is only 40% of the average, said Dimitrov. This is also the lowest ratio in the EU. It's over 50% everywhere, he added. 

Edited by Ivo Ivanov
English: R. Petkova



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

Average life expectancy in Bulgaria reaches 75.6 years, while in the EU it is 81.4

The average life expectancy in Bulgaria has started to rise again and reaches 75.6 years, the government press service announced. The positive trend is mainly associated with the subsiding impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The average..

published on 11/20/25 9:37 AM

Experts discuss students’ access to social networks

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science is organizing a national round table on 20 November on the topic “Are Restrictions Needed on Children’s Access to Social Networks?”   The initiative is in cooperation with the parliamentary..

published on 11/20/25 6:05 AM

Lukoil says it reserves right to seek legal protection in Bulgaria

Russia’s Lukoil said it reserves the right to pursue legal action to defend its rights and legitimate interests in Bulgaria after a special administrator took control of its local assets. LUKOIL Neftohim special administrator removes board chair..

published on 11/19/25 5:50 PM