Minimum wage and pensions: What lies ahead for workers in Bulgaria?

A new formula for the minimum wage

Social Minister Nataliya Efremova reassured that the current protective clause in the Labor Code guarantees that the minimum wage will not decrease. Negotiations with social partners are upcoming to introduce a mechanism that takes into account economic development and qualifications, rather than just an automatic formula.

The specific figure is not what matters; what matters is that it is based on the contribution and the capabilities of the economy, Efremova emphasized.

Changes regarding part-time work

• Protection of labor rights during reduced working hours.
• Expected "whitening" (formalization) of employment.
• Clarification of the impact on future social benefits.

Disability pensions and retirement age

Minister Efremova categorically denied the possibility of suspending disability pensions based solely on a tip-off. Regarding the retirement age, she stated that at the moment, the topic of increasing it is not on the government's agenda.