Employees of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIOSV), the "Labor Office" Directorate, and the Labor Inspectorate in Burgas held a brief protest demonstration demanding an increase in their salaries by at least 20 percent. The protest was organized by the trade union organizations Confederation of Labor "Podkrepa" and Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB).
Current salaries in the three institutions vary between 1,500 and 1,800 leva for employees with different positions and experience. The last salary increase last year was about 15-18 percent, but did not reach the previously promised 26 percent.
The protesters emphasized that the current wages do not correspond to the increased workload and the rising cost of living in the region, as low pay makes it difficult to retain staff and increases turnover in the institutions.
The next protest will be held on November 28 in the yard of the Primorie district of the Social Assistance Directorate in Burgas, Podkrepa announced. The union announced that the protests will continue in stages, and the organization reserves the right to expand the forms of pressure if the demands are not heard.