The National Federation "Agriculture and Forestry" of CT "Podkrepa" raised sharp questions regarding the critical situation in state forest enterprises. During a specially organized press conference, experts presented a comprehensive analysis of sectoral challenges and insisted on immediate actions by the government.
Leading union representatives, including Associate Professor Valeri Apostolov and Anelia Ivanova, highlighted three key problem areas: financial instability, lack of adequate pay, and unfulfilled commitments by the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to union leaders, the main challenges include a drastic drop in timber revenues, unpaid overtime hours, and lack of a mechanism to compensate for the public functions performed by forest farms.
Economic advisor Atanas Katsarchev presented specific financial dimensions of the crisis. The costs of restoring forests burned during the summer fire season are expected to reach around 120 million leva. 2000 leva are needed to reforest one decare, with approximately 60,000 decares of forest areas currently destroyed.
The unions are calling for the urgent creation of a mechanism to guarantee the financial sustainability of forest enterprises. They emphasize that over 70 percent of forest territories are state-owned, which imposes direct responsibility on the executive branch.
Specific demands include a minimum 30 percent increase in wages, equalizing employee status with that of firefighters and police, and creating a special "Forest" fund for managing critical situations.
Anelia Ivanova emphasized that employees are placed in an impossible situation - choosing between protecting forest areas and protecting their own labor rights. At the moment, they have taken legal steps for a collective labor dispute, which may lead to protest actions.
Representatives of CT "Podkrepa" sharply criticize the action plan proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, describing it as "wishful" and lacking specific short-term and long-term measures.
The unions are calling for an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss mechanisms for stabilizing the sector, overcoming financial deficits, and ensuring the sustainability of forest enterprises.
In conclusion, experts emphasize the urgent need for a comprehensive state strategy that takes into account market realities, the specifics of the forest sector, and the social needs of employees.