CITUB expects that a regular state budget will be adopted in mid-2026

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) will request higher wages for public sector employees once the procedure for adopting the regular 2026 state budget begins, Plamen Dimitrov, leader of Bulgaria’s largest trade union, told BTA.

He expects a regular budget to be adopted in the middle of the year, with another extension of the already extended budget likely in March.

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“We continue to maintain that there was nothing concerning in the second revised version of the regular budget, which was substantially reworked and agreed upon between trade unions and employers”, Plamen Dimitrov said. “Our minimum demand was a 10% wage increase, or about EUR 1 billion in additional funding”, Plamen Dimitrov said.

The currently planned 5% increase does not cover all sectors and the employees in education, science, municipal healthcare and culture may not receive the necessary pay rise, said Plamen Dimitrov. He predicted growing public tension due to the lack of wage increases, higher electricity bills and rising prices.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov