Trade Union, Economy Minister to Discuss Suspension of License of Arms Maker Dunarit

Trade union representatives at Ruse-based arms and ammunition manufacturer Dunarit will meet with Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski on Monday to discuss the suspension of the license of the company.

The license of Dunarit AD Ruse for the import, export, and transfer of arms was terminated for a period of six months through a decision of the Interministerial Council on Defense Industry and Security of Supply at the Council of Ministers, an entity co-chaired by Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski and Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev.

The reason behind the measure was said to be "impaired economic stability and reliability."

The suspension of the activities of Dunarit leaves its headcount of nearly 800 people, as well as another 800 or so people working at auxiliary companies, unemployed.

The Economy Ministry has not provided concrete reasons for the move, stressing that the information related to the case is classified.

Lukarski, as cited by Sega daily, has argued that the decision has been taken to avoid "an objective threat to the financial stability of the country."

Trade unions insist that Monday's meeting should result in a solution to the problem that ensures normal production activities at Dunarit and keeps the jobs of its employees.

Diana Georgieva from the Ruse-based unit of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) claims that although the workers are currently at their workplaces, there is a threat to Dunarit's exports.

Georgieva also warns that there is a risk of the workers not receiving their salaries.

In her words, although meetings with the CEO of Dunarit take place on a daily basis, he is unaware of the developments at the company, as well as its Chair of the Board of...