Labor history

Bulgarians are celebrating Monday, May 1, the international Labor Day marking the struggle for dignified work and the feeling of solidarity amongst laborers.

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May Day is celebrated around the world this Monday, as well as in Serbia, where it is marked as Labor Day - a two-day non working state holiday.

May 1 is marked to commemorate the deadline given in 1886 by workers in Chicago - who were striking and protesting for the eight-hour workday - to their employers and the government to meet their demands.

All museums and archaeological sites are to remain closed to the public on Monday after guards decided on Thursday to stage a 24-hour walkout, demanding unpaid wages and the recruitment of additional employees to tackle understaffing problems.

The union representing guards at museums and archaeological sites called on authorities to pay outstanding wages for weekends and holidays.

The US Embassy in Greece said on Thursday that the US Consulate in Thessaloniki will remain closed due to plumbing problems on Thursday.

Bulgarian lawmakers have amended recently adopted rules on how public holidays will be celebrated when they fall on weekends.

Under the latest changes, when public holidays coincide with Saturday, Sunday or both, Monday and/or Tuesday will be called "days off".

There will be no merger of festive days and weekends if a holiday falls on Thursday or Tuesday, lawmakers have decided.

MPs have voted on first reading changes to Bulgaria's Labour Code that abolish the current rules under which Friday or Monday, respectively, is declared a holiday to merge it with a public holiday dated during the workweek.

The Bulgarian government has approved amendments to the Labour Code which ensure better protection for Bulgarian workers sent on working trips in the EU, reported the press centre of the Council of Ministers.

Parliament adopted the amendments to the Ministry of Interior Act on Thursday.

Before Parliament's second reading, the Interior Ministry withdrew several of its key proposals.

As before, at retirement, employees will continue to receive compensation of up to 20 monthly wages. Paid annual leave continues to be 30 days and will not be reduced by 5 days as envisaged.

The Greek government asked the Parliament to conduct a plenary session during the weekend in order to vote for the social security bill before the Eurogroup meeting which will take place on Monday.

Police have used tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Paris who are protesting against the new labor reforms.

According to Le Figaro newspaper, a group of 30 young people broke the windows of banks and shops, while throwing rocks to police officers. Many people were arrested, according to Le Parisien.