Bulgaria’s social committee advanced a contested new formula for minimum wage calculations during a late-stage parliamentary vote on Wednesday, following a four-hour debate sparked by government documentation. The upcoming statutory changes establish four distinct criteria for determining wage floors, though opposition lawmakers warned the current implementation could reduce projected earnings for more than half a million workers.
Social Committee Advances Minimum Wage Formula Amid Debate
The parliamentary social committee voted to approve the government’s proposed amendments to the Labor Code during a second reading. Proceedings stalled for over four hours after Deputy Social Minister Nadya Klisurska presented an explanatory document from a working group that lawmakers identified as the baseline ordinance for the new statutory text. Committee members raised questions regarding discrepancies in data periods, specifically noting that calculations for living expenses rely on average annual changes of the consumer price index from a restricted consumer basket, while average wage growth calculations utilize annual figures.
Opposition Figures Warn of Financial Shortfalls for Workers
Meanwhile, GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) proposed evaluating wage adequacy every two years rather than the triennial schedule proposed by the executive branch.
Upcoming Deadlines and Implementation Criteria
The revised minimum wage legislation proceeds to the plenary hall for a second reading on Friday. The final monetary amount must be finalized by October 15, with the administration selecting a figure between 620.20 and 672.80 euros. Under the approved framework, adjustments will depend on four specific factors: purchasing power relative to living costs, overall wage levels, economic growth rates, and labor productivity. Authorities will conduct adequacy assessments every three years to align the minimum wage with 60 percent of the median salary and the established cost of living.
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