Labour law

The Bulgarian economy faces a significant workforce shortage, with over 250,000 vacancies across various sectors. The most acute deficits are found in construction and healthcare, where there is a lack of specialized professionals and managerial staff. As a result, businesses are bracing for rising labor costs as they compete to retain qualified workers.

The service and maintenance fee hikes started at a minimum of 26 percent and a maximum of 60 percent across Istanbul following the determination of the minimum wage hike, corresponding to an average of 45 percent raise.

Starting January 1, 2025, Bulgaria's minimum wage will increase by 15.4%, rising from 933 to 1,077 leva per month.

This adjustment, announced by the Council of Ministers on October 26, 2024, aims to enhance the living standards of the lowest-paid workers.

From 58 to 387 euros, the increase that employees in the private sector, public sector employees (private law relationship) and pensioners will see in their net pay will range from 58 to 387 euros due to the reduction of health insurance contributions by one percentage point from 1/1/2025.

Teams from the Trade Ministry have intensified price checks across the country to see if retailers are passing the hike in minimum wage onto consumers.

This month, the minimum wage for 2025 was raised by 30 percent to a net of 22,104 Turkish Liras ($628) per month.

The Bulgarian Employment Agency provides services tailored to a wide range of clients, including employers and job seekers. Individuals seeking employment can range from students and retirees to currently employed individuals looking to transition to new opportunities.

The increases in the minimum have surpassed the annual inflation rates, according to Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek.

In 2013, the annual inflation was 64.8 percent, whereas the minimum wage was hiked by 107.3 percent in that year, Şimşek wrote on X.

Bulgaria's minimum wage is set to rise to 1,077 leva (550 euros) from January 2025, despite the absence of an adopted budget for the year. The increase, implemented through a government decree published in the State Gazette in October, marks a 15.4% hike from the current 933 leva.

Thousands of people protested in Turkey's capital Ankara on Saturday to demand a bigger hike in the minimum wage, chanting slogans calling on the government to resign and waving the opposition and national flags.

Wage increases and pension and reduction in contributions for employees are the positive changes that 2025 brings while a burden due to the increase in contributions brings to freelancers.