Asya Goneva, a social protection consultant for the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (KNSB), does not expect the government to change pension contributions for the second pillar. The union is not worried by recent reports, she told BTA at a press briefing.
The comments follow reports that officials were preparing to change how much people pay into the second pension pillar.
Goneva said government experts have likely run many calculations to find where to cut costs due to the budget deficit. She said they have the right to do this, but the union does not accept such a proposal because it would not work. The deficit in the National Social Security Institute (NOI) pension fund is billions, while changing the second pillar might only save 700m to 900m. According to her, these funds „do not weigh enough on the scale“.
Goneva added that the KNSB has not discussed people's rights regarding the second pillar during recent talks about the NOI budget.
„I am sure the government knows exactly what such a decision would cause,“ she said.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Wednesday that claims of theft from pensions through the second pillar are baseless. The Finance Ministry also released a statement denying any upcoming reform.
Konstantin Prodanov from Progressive Bulgaria, head of the Parliament's budget and finance committee, told reporters on Tuesday that there are no plans to move part of the second pillar contributions to the NOI.
The Finance Ministry will present the 2027 state budget draft tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at the University of National and World Economy's „Maxima“ hall.