One in three children in Bulgaria risks falling into poverty, and nearly 29% of people overall face the same risk. That's according to Zornitsa Rusinova, head of the Economic and Social Council, who spoke at a public consultation the council held with the labour and social policy ministry at the Council of Ministers building.
The meeting looked at the risks of merging social laws into a single code and what would happen to social payments. Bulgarian trade unions and civic groups, along with the Council of Ministers, the labour ministry and members of parliament, had pushed for the discussion.
Spending under the law on people with disabilities, the law on personal assistance and social aid has risen sharply, but poverty remains high, Rusinova said. It's time to look for a new model, she said, rather than just tweak child benefits or heating aid.
More than 60 social support schemes now exist. The labour ministry counts 9 laws covering the sector, while the Social Assistance Agency counts nearly 25.
Money should go where it's really needed and produce clear results, Rusinova said. Support should help people stand on their own feet and need less help over time, instead of tying them to the system.
Social laws have been changing for more than 10 years. Over that time, rules for people with disabilities were revised, social services were split off into a separate law, the way social aid is paid out changed, and a poverty line was introduced.
Frequent, fast changes make life hard even for staff at social services and in municipalities, Rusinova said, and that hits people too. The council speaks for a wide range of interests across society, she added.
Rusinova hopes work will now start on merging and codifying social laws — for example, as part of a government programme or a new bill. "We can help drive that change forward, which is the main goal of today's discussion," she said.