799 euros needed for the subsistence of a worker in Bulgaria

The monthly income needed for the subsistence of one worker is 1,562 levs (799 euros), according to data from the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria for the fourth quarter of last year. A three-member family of two adults with a child under 14 needs 2,812 levs (1,438 euros).

The income needed for subsistence is increasing by 1% on a quarterly basis and by 6% on an annual basis, announced the president of CITUB, Plamen Dimitrov. About 60% of the employed in the country, or over 1.5 million people, have an insurance income below the subsistence wage, but the trend is for their share to decrease, according to the deputy director of Institute for Social and Trade Union Research, Violeta Ivanova.

“256 thousand are those who work full-time and are insured on a minimum wage or nearly 49% of all those who are insured on a minimum wage. It still remains a mystery and perhaps additional research should be done to determine what proportion of them actually work full-time and part-time,” Violeta Ivanova said.

Food prices in this country remain among the highest in the European Union, while the level of salaries is the lowest, the CITUB also said. The union is calling for a minimum of 10% increase in wages in the private sector and the rapid adoption of a regular budget.

Editor: Diana Tsankova
Photo: BTA