Bulgarian trade union confederation CITUB organised a Round Table debate in November on ‘The European Pillar of Social Rights – Challenges and Perspectives’, with representatives from the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour, the Bulgarian Parliament, employers’ organisations and scientific bodies.
Gabriele Bischoff, President of the European Economic and Social Committee Workers' Group, emphasised that there was no future for a Europe without serious social policies. “It is important for us to implement the rules of this pillar in all Member States, not just in a limited number of countries.”
The Bulgarian Minister of Labour and Social Policy said special measures and legislation are needed at both EU and national level to give the pillar legal force. "The Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is determined to contribute to the EPSR endorsement."
According to CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov, Bulgaria’s average salary could reach €1,000 in 2022, or 60% of the average European purchasing power standard. “This should be one of the goals of the government's national plan for implementing the EPSR,” he said, which should also include cutting the proportion of low-paid workers to below 15%, and halving the number of working poor from 11% to less than 7%.