Confederation of Labour Podkrepa

The social partners are launching joint actions on electricity prices. Today, 15 January 2018, a workshop was held between the heads of nationally representative organizations and employees and employers united in the "4 + 2" format.

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria organised a protest for higher incomes of workers. The union has announced they will not support the budget because they want higher salaries in a number of sectors. The leadership of the Podkrepa Labor Code has refused to participate in the protest.

Head of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, Plamen Dimitrov, has said that 70% of workers in Bulgaria receive below the average salary, BNR reported.

Bulgarian state-owned military plant VMZ Sopot has a new CEO, Ivan Getsov, according to an announcement of Dimitar Atanasov, Chair of the Podkrepa Labor Confederation at the plant.

The four major employers' associations in Bulgaria and the two trade unions have issued a list of demands triggered by the new power price hike, warning to renew and intensify protests in September unless the requirements are fulfilled.

Vasl Velev, Chair of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA), has argued that electricity tariffs should remain unchanged in the next pricing period.

In a Thursday interview for TV7, Velev claimed that there was no obstacle, be it of legal or economic nature, for Bulgaria's Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) to keep electricity prices unchanged.

Representatives of employers' associations and trade unions staged protests over a forthcoming power price hike in a number of cities across Bulgaria.

The rally in Sofia, which started at the Council of Ministers building an ended in front of the National Assembly, was attended by several hundred people, according to reports of Capital daily.

Trade unions of mine workers have warned they are ready to organize a strike over the lack of funding to ensure the normal functioning of the state-owned Maritsa Iztok Mines, according to Vladimir Topalov, Chair of the miners' federation at the Podkrepa Labor Confederation.

Bulgarian Ruse-based arms and ammunition manufacturer Dunarit may continue its production activity despite the suspension of its import and export license, according to Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski.

Bulgarian trade unions have opposed a decision of the Interministerial Council on Defense Industry and Security of Supply at the Council of Ministers to terminate the license of Dunarit AD Ruse for the import, export, and transfer of arms.

Ruse-based Dunarit AD is a major manufacturer of military and machine- engineering products.